Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-12-05
International complications.

international complications.
Commencing the successful results
of the application Of the new neutral
ity laws to Mexico and other troubled
countries the president suggests that
means be found In addition to prevent
the professional revolutionists from
making American ports "foci' for re-
evolutionary intrigue. He reiterates
his determination to adhere in the
case Of Mexico to the patient policy
of non-intervention, steadfast recogni.
ton of constituted authority, and the
exertion of every effort to protect
American interests"
: The message concludes with an
earnest appeal to congress to cooper
ate with the executive in it's efforts to
apply the old principles Of diplomacy
which have governed the country, to
the omentuous new situations of to-
day, when America finds itself at the
threshold Of her middle age as ma
ton; too mature to continue in its
foreign relations those temporary ex-
pedients natural to a people to, whom
domestic affairs are the sole concern"
The presidents message in full fol-
lows:
..I senate and l4,iu>~ III e..
sentatives:
The foreign relations of the Unsr
| States actually and potentially affec'
| the state of the Union to a degree not
widely realized and hardly surpassed
by any other factor in the welfare OF
the whole nation. The position of the
United States in the moral, intellec-
tual and material relations of the fam
lily Of nations should be matter Of
vital interest to every patriotic citi-
zen. The national prosperity and
power impose upon US duties which
we cannot shirk If We are to be true
to our ideals.
The tremendous growth of the ex-
port trade of the United States has
already made that trade very real
factor in the industrial and CONNER
cial prosperity Of the country. With
the development OF our industries the
foreign commerce Of the United
States must rapidly become still
more essential factor in It's economic
welfare.
The relations Of the United States
with all foreign powers remain upon
sound basis of peace, harmony and
friendship. A greater insistence upon
Justice to American citizens or inter-
ests wherever it may have been denied
and a stronger emphasis Of the need OF
mutually in commercial and other re-
lations have only served to strengthen
our friendship with foreign countries
by placing those friendships upon a
firm foundation of realities as well as
aspirations.
REORGANIZATION Of State Department.
At the beginning Of the present adj
ministration the United States, having
fully entered upon its position as a
world power, with the responsibilities
thrust upon it by the results Of the
Spanish war and already en-
gagged in laying the groundwork OF II
vast foreign trade upon which it
should one day become more and more
dependent, found itself without the
machinery for giving thorough atten-
ton to and taking effective action
upon 4 mass Of intricate business vi
tai to American interests in every coun-
try in the world.
The department Of state was an
archaic and inadequate machine, lack
ing most Of the attributes Of the for
eign Office Of any great modern power.
With an appropriation made upon my
recommendation by the congress on
Aug. 5, 1909, the department Of state
was completely reorganized. There
were created divisions Of Latin-Ameri-
can affairs and Of far eastern, near
eastern and western European affairs.
The law Offices Of the department
were greatly strengthened. There were
added foreign trade advisers to coop
crate with the diplomatic and consular
bureaus and the politico-geographical
divisions in the innumerable matters
where commercial diplomacy or con-
sular work calls for such special
knowledge. The same officers, together
with the rest of the new organization.
are able at all times to give to Ameri-
can citizens accurate Information as to
conditions in foreign countries with
which they have business and likewise
to cooperate more effectively with the
congress and also with the other ex-
ecutive departments.
Merit System In Consular and DipIo-
matte Corps.
Expert knowledge and professional
training must evidently be the essence
of this reorganization. Without train
ed foreign service there would not be
men available for the work in the reor-
ganized department Of state. President
Cleve had taken the first step to-
ward introducing the merit system in
the foreign service. That had been fol-
lowed by the application Of tho merit
principle, with excellent results to the
entire consular branch. Almost moth
ing, however, had been done in this d.
rection with regard to the diplomatic
service. In this age Of commercial d.
plomacy it was evidently Of the nrst
Importance to train an adequate per-
sonnet in that branch Of the service.
Therefore, on Nov, 20. 1909, by an