The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1912-12-03
-
|IAFrS 4TH ANNUAL
MESSAGE TO
CONGRESS
NOTE OF WARNING TO EUROPEAN
POWERS FOR DISCRIMINATION
AGAINST U. s. TRADE.
ADMINISTRATION DIPLOMACY
TRIUMPHANTLY INDICATED
Taxes Masterful Pride In Enormous
Expansion American Trade az R.su,t
OF Foreign Policies-AppeaIs For
Joint Action to Open New Markets.
by Associated Press.)

by Associated Press.)
washington, Dec. "a note of
warning to European powers which by
indirect means continue to discrimi.
nate against American trade; a strong
appeal to the Congress to uplift the
great foreign policies of America above
mere questions Of partisanship: a tri.
umphant vindication of the diplomacy
OF the administration, which is charac-
ter1zed as that of dollars versus bul.
let's" a masterful pride in the enor-
nous expansion of American trade as
result of the foreign policies of his
administration; and an earnest an.
peal Tor joint action by Congress and
the executive to open new markets for
American industries-these are the
more striking features of President
Tafts fourth annual message sent IN
Congress today.
Tne message is the first of a series
OF communications which he will make
TO Congress in the early days of the
session, and deals entirely with the
foreign relations of the United States.
Beginning with the usual reference to
the existing good relations with for
eign powers, the President adds that
these have been strengthened by "a
greater insistence upon justice to Amer
lean citizens, or interests, wherever
It may have been denied, and a strong
, er emphasis of the need of mutualitv
in commercial and other relations"
For the first time in its history.
says the Pfesident the state depart
ment has obtained substantially the
most favored nation treatment from
all OF the countries of the world.
Therefore, he says that it is only nat
ural that competitive countries should
view with some concern the expansion
of our commerce. Hence the warn
ing, IF in some instance, the meas.
ures taken by them to meet it are not
entirely equitable, remedy should be
found" ID ...4u
To this end, the President strongly
recommends the enactment of the bill
recommended by Secretary Knox last
December, permitting the government,
instead of imposing the full maximum
rates Of duty against discriminating
countries, to apply a graduated scale
of duties, up to that maximum of 25
per cent.
Flat tariffs are out of date" says
the President Nations no longer ac-
cord equal tariff treatment to all 9TH
er nations, irrespective of the treat
ment from them received. It
is very necessary that the American
government should be equipped with
weapons Of negotiation and adapted to
modern economic conditions"
The state department, ian archaic
and inadequate machine" at the be-
ginning of this administration, the
President says, has become a new or
ganization, with highly specialized bu-
reaus and experts dealing with every
phase of American trade and diplo-
macy Holding that the essence of this
reoreanized service is found in the
merit system, which President Cleve-
land is credited with having intro
duced, President Taft makes a strong
appeal to Congress to make this ma
chine permanent, by giving the force
Of statutory laws to the executive or
ders governing admission to and pro-
motion in the diplomatic and consular
services.
TO show that these appointments
are already largely nonpartisan, the
President points to the fact that three
of the present ambassadors are hold
overs that of the ten he has appoint
ed, five were by promotion from the
rank of minister; that of the thirty
ministers appointed, eleven were pro-
motions; and that in the consular
service no less than 55 per cent OF
the consuls appointed by him were
from the Southern states.
"The doplimacy of the present adj
hinistration has sought to respond to
esss