Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1912-12-05
RELATIONS WITH
!. OTHER NATIONS
Foreign Affairs is Subject Of
Message From President.
IS FIRST ONE OF A SERIES
Merit System In Consular and DIplo.
matte corps-Department Of
States Good Work for Latin
American Republics.

FNAbt~b sSStA sASf00ttScs
Washington, Dec. s.-President Taft
submitted to congress today the first
of several messages. 1t was devoted
to our foreign relations and In part
was as follows:
To the Senate and House of Repre-
sentativess The foreign relations Of
the United States actually and poten-
TALLY affect the state Of the Union to
q degree not widely realized and hard
~ surpassed by any other factor In
the welfare Of the whole nation. The
position of the United States In the
moral intellectual, and material rela-
lions Of the family of nations should
be matter of vital interest to every
patriotic citizen. The national pros
perity and power impose upon US du-
ties which we can not shirk If we are
to be true to our ideals. The tremen-
dous growth of the export trade Of the
United States has already made that
trade very real factor in the indus
trial and commercial prosperity of the
country. With the development of our
industries the foreign commerce Of
the United States must rapidly be-
come still more essential factor in
its economic welfare. Whether we
have a far-seeing and wise diplomacy
and are not recklessly plunged into
unnecessary wars, and whether our for
eign policies are based upon an intel
ligent grasp Of present-day world con-
ditions and clear view of the poten-
tiaiities of the future, OF are governed
by a temporary and timid expediency
or by narrow views befitting an in
FAINT nation, are questions in the al
tentative consideration of which must
convince any thoughtful citizen that
no department of national polity Of
fers greater opportunity for promoting
the interests of the whole people on
. the one hand, or greater chance on
the other Of permanent national in
jury, than that which deals with the
foreign relations of the United States
The fundamental foreign policies of
the United States should be raised
high above the conflict of partisan
ship and wholly ASSOCIATED from diff
ferences as to domestic policy. In its
foreign affairs the United States
should present to the world a united
front. The intellectual, financial and
industrial interests of the country and
the publicist, the wage Garner, the
farmer, and citizen of whatever occu-
patton must cooperate in spirit of
high patriotism to promote that ma
tional solidarity which is indispensable
81 let ~
tainment of national ideals.
The relations Of the United States
with all foreign powers remain upon
a sound basis of peace, harmony and
friendship. A greater insistence upon
Justice to American citizens or inter-
ests wherever it may have been de-
MED and stronger emphasis of the
need OF mutually In commercial and
other relations have only served to
strengthen our friendships with for
eigni countries by placing those friend
ships upon firm foundation of reali-
ties as well as aspirations.
Reorganization of the State Depart
ment.
At the beginning Of the present ad-
ministration the United States, having
fully entered upon Its position as a
world power, with the responsibilities
thrust upon 1t by the results Of the
Spanish-American war, and already en-
gagged In laying the groundwork of a
vast foreign trade upon which 1t
should one day become more and
more dependent, found itself without
the machinery for giving thorough at
tention to, and taking effective action
upon, mass of intricate business
vital to American interests in every
country I'M 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
August 5, 1909, the department Of
state was completely reorganized
There were created divisions Of Latin:
American affairs and of far eastern
near eastern, and western European
affairs. To these divisions were called
from the foreign service diplomatic
and consular officers possessing expe-
rience and knowledge gained by act
ual service in different parts OF the
world and thus familiar with political
and commercial conditions in the re.
gions concerned The work was high
ly specialized. The result is that
where previously this government
from time to time would emphasize in
its foreign relations one or another
policy. now American interests in ey-
cry quarter OF the globe are being