The Forrest City times., 1912-12-06
cultivated with equal assidu.ty. Merit System in Consular and DipIo-
 matlc Corps

Merit System in Consular and DipIo- matle Corps.
 Expert knowledge and professional training must evidently be the essence of this reorganization. Without a trained foreign service there would not be men available for the work Tn the reorganized department of state President Cleveland has taken the first step toward introducing the merit system in the foreign service. That had been followed by the appli- cation of the merit principle. with ex- cellent results. to the entire consular branch. Almost nothing. however. had been done in this direction with regard to the diplomatic service. Tn this age Of commercial diplomacy 1t was evi- dently of the first importance to train an adequate personnel in that branch of the service. Therefore. on Hoveu7- Der 2b, 1909. by an executive order I placed the diplomatic service up to the grade of secretary of embassy. in- elusive, upon exactly the same strict non-paTisan basis of the merit sys- tenn. rigid examination for appoint ment and promotion only for eff cieney. as had been maintained without exception in the consular service.
 Successful Efforts in Promotion of
 Peace.
 In the field of work toward the ideals of peace this government ne gotlated but 10 my regret was unable to eonsummate, two arbitration trea- ties which set the highest mark of the aspiration of nations toward the substitution of arbitration and reason for war in the settlement of interna- tional disputes. Through the efforts of American diplomacy several wars have been prevented or ended. 1 re- Ter to the successful tripartite medi- ation of the Argentine republic. Bra gil. and the United States between Peru and Ecuador; the bringing of the boundary dispute between Panama and Costa Rica to peaceful arbitra- tion; the staying of warlike prepara- tions when Hayti and the Dominican republic were on the verge of hostili- ties; the stopping of war in Nicarag- ua; the haiting of interneeine strife in Honduras. The government of the United States was thanked for it's in- fiuenee toward the restoration of amic- able relations between the Argentine republic and Bolivia. The diplomacy Of the United States is active in seek ing to assuage the remaining iIl-feel- ing between this country and the Re public of Colombia. In the recent Civ il war in China the United States sue cessfully joined with the other inter- ested powers in urging an early ces- sation of hostilities An agreement has been reached between the govern ments of Chile and Peru whereby the celebrated TacnaArica dispute, which has so long embittered international relations on the west coast Of South America, has at last been adjusted Simultaneously came the news that the boundary dispute between Peru and Ecuador had entered upon a stage of amicable settlement. The position of the United States in reference to the Tacna-Arica dispute between Chile and Peru has been one of non- intervention> but one of friendly in- fiuence and pacific counsel throughout the period during which the dispute in question has been the subject of interchange of views between this government and the two governments immediately concerned.
 China.
 In China the policy of encouraging financial investment to enahle that country to help itself has had the re suit of giving new life and practical application to the open-door policy The consistent purpose of the present administration has been to encourage the use of American capital in the development Of China by the promo tlon of those essential reforms to which China is pledged by treaties with the United States and other pow. CTS. he hypothecation to foreign bankers in connection with certain in. dustTial enterprises, such as the EIuku- ang railways. Of the national regen- ues upon which these reforms depend ed, Led the department of state early in the administration to demand for American citizens participation in such enterprises, in order that the United States might have equal rights and an equal voice in all questions pertaining to the disposition Of the public revenues concerned The same