Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1912-12-03
TAT 7, IN MESSAGE,
MAKES PLEA FOR
TARIFF CHANGES
He Favors Graduated
Scale of Duties. with
Maximum.
DIPLOMATIC SERVICE
REFORM is ADVOCATED
Mentions Arbitration Treaties
and Points With Pride to
Chinese Conditions.

WASHINGTON, Dec. s.-President
Taft's fourth annual message was
sent to Congress today. The message
is the first of series of such COM
munications which he will make to
Congress in the early days of the
session, and deals entirely with the
foreign relations of the United States.
He says that 1t is only natural that
competitive countries should view
with some concern the expansion OF
our commerce. and he strongly recon-
mends the enactment Of bill per-
mitting the government to apply a
graduated scale of duties up to a
maximum of 25 per cent.
The state department, he says, has
become a new organization, with
highly specialized bureaus and ex-
perts dealing with every phase OF
American trade and diplomacy
Holding that the essence OF this reor-
ganized service is found in the merit
system. President Taft makes
strong appeal to Congress to give the
force of statutory law to the execu-
tive orders governing admission to
and promotion in the diplomatic
and consular service.
He mentions the arbitration treaties
with France and Great Britain,
which failed of confirmation in the
Senate; the successful tripartite me-
diation of the Argentine Republic,
Brazil and the United States, between
Peru and Ecuador; the arbitration OF
the Panama Costa Rica boundary dis
pute; the Intervention between Haiti
and the Dominican Republic on the
verge of war, the suppression of the
Nicaraguan war, the halting of in
ternecine strife in Honduras. the ad-
justment of the celebrated
Tacna-Arica dispute between. Peru
and Chile, and the adjustment of the
Peruvian -Ecuadorian boundary issue.
In consequence of these things, says
the President, there has been a gen
eral easing of international tension
on the west coast of South America.
He also adds that the diplomacy of
the limited States Is active in seek
ing to assuage the remaining ill-feel-
ing between this country and Column
bla.
Pleased with China.
The President refers with express
sions of pride to China and ''the prac-
tical application of the open-door
policy" and the encouragement of
the use of American capital in China
to promote the reforms to which THAI
country is pledged by treaty with the
United States and other powers.
There has been a vigorous assertion,
also, he says, of the equal right of
the United States to a voice in all
questions pertaining to Chinese loans
and developments.
President Taft makes the direct
charge that the terrible events re-
corded in Nicaragua recently might
have been averted had the depart
ment of state been permitted to carry
out its new well-developed policy.
I'm Central America the aim has
been to help such countries as Mic
aragua and Honduras to help them
selves" says President Taft. He
adds that the Monroe doctrine is
more vital in the neighborhood of
the Panama canal, and such coun-
tries should be relieved of the jeop%
ardy of heavy foreign debts likely
to provoke international complica-
tions.
The financial rehabilitation of these
countries by American bankers and
the protection of their customs
houses would remove the menace of
foreign creditors and revolutionary
disorder, he says. He suggests also
that means be found to prevent pro-
fessional revolutionists from making
American ports "foci' for revolution
ary intrigue. He reiterates his de-
termination TO adhere in the case of
Mexico to the patient policy of nom
steadfast recognition of |
constituted authority and the exer
ton of every effort to protect Amer
ican interests"
Increase in Exports.
other paragraphs of the message |
point to the increase of American do |
mestic exports by $20,000,00O during |
the past year, the agricultural credit |
system. the probable need of an
amendment of the fur seal act to |
permit limiting killing of seals, to
of the arbitrators in Wash
Ington next year to adjust the pecu-
mary claims between Great Britain
and America. to negotiations with
Mexico for the distribution of the
waters of the Colorado river In the
Imperial Valley section and to the
financial rehabilitation of Liberia
There is merely historical reference
10 the Chinese revolution. to the
5anto Domingo troubles. the rebel
ion in Cuba and the Balkan war
development
The message concludes with an
earnest appeal to Congress to coop
srate with the executive in it's ef-
'orts to apply principles Of diplomacy
% the momentous new situations of
.oday. when America stands at the
hrehold OF her middle age as ma
ion too mature to continue In it's
'oreign relations those temporary ex-
,edients natural to a people to whom
domestic affairs are the sole con-
,ern."