Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-12-05

to Aid Commeroe--Turkish War and
Troubles In China.
TO the Senate and House of Repre-
sentatives:
The foreign relations of the United
'tates actually and potentially AFFECT
he state of the Union TO degree not
widely realized and hardly surpassed
by any other factor in the welfare or
'he whole nation. The position OF the
United States in the moral. lnteilec-
Iual and material relations OF the fam
Nv of nations should I've a matter OF
-ital interest to every patriotic citl-
ten. The national prosperity and
power impose upon us duties which
we cannot shirk if we are to be true
10 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
rial 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 its 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-
,sts wherever it may have been denied
md stronger emphasis of the need OF
mutually in commercial and other re-
lations have only served to strengthen
Dur friendship with foreign countries
by placing those friendships upon
Arm 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 American war and already en-
gagged in laying the groundwork Of n
vast foreign trade upon which 1t
should one day become more and more
dependent, found itself without the
machinery for giving thorough atten-
hon to and taking effective action
upon 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. 8, 1909. the department of state
was completely recognized. There
we're created divisions Of Latin Amer-
IAN affairs and of far eastern near
EASTERN and western European affairs.
The law Offices of the department
We're greatly strengthened. There were
added foreign trade advisers to coop
rate with the diplomatic and consular
ureaus and the politico geographical
hvisions in the innumerabe matters
where commercial diplomacy or con
nlar work calls for such special
knowledge. The Same officers. together
With the rest Of the new organization.
re able at all times to give to Ameri.
an citizens accurate information as to
ondtions in foreign countries with
which they have business and likewise
10 cooperate more effectively with the
congress and also with the other ex.
'cutive departments.
Merit System In Consular and Diplo.
matte Corps.
Expert knowledge and professional
raining must evidently be the essence
v this reorganization. Without a train
>d foreign service there would not he
men available for the work in the reor.
yanized department of state President
cleveland had taken the first step TO-
ward introducing the merit system in
The foreign service. That had been fol.
lowed by the application of the merit
principle. with excellent results to the
.ntire consular branch. Almost moth.
ng, however, had been done in this d.
rection with regard to the diplomatic
service. In this age OF commercial di.
plOmacy 1t was evidently of the first
Importance to train an adequate per-
sonnet in that branch of the service.
Therefore. on Nov. &C. 1909. by an
executive order placed the diplomatic
|ervice up to the grade of secretary of
Embassy, inclusive, upon exactly the
lame strict nonpartisan basis of the
merit system, rigid examination for an
pointment and promotion only for eff
ciency, as had been maintained with.
out exception in the consular service.
Merit and Nonpsrtissn Character Of
Appointments.
How faithful 10 the merit system
Ind how nOnpartisan has been the con.
1uct OF the diplomatic and consular
services in the last four wears NAV be
Judged from the following Three am.
bassadors now serving held their pres
ent rank at the beginning Of my ad-
ministration. or the ten ambassadors
whom have appointed five were by
promotion from the rank Of minister.
Nine ministers now serving held their
present rank at the beginning of the
administration OF the thirty ministers
whom have appointed, eleven were
promoted from the lower grades OF the
foreign service or from the department
&C state or the nineteen missions in
Latin-America, where our relations are
close and our interest is great, fifteen
chiefs Of mission are service men,
three having entered the service during
this administrato
The thirty-seven secretaries of en-
bassy or legation who have received
their initial appointments after passing
fprll ~.