The Chanute times., 1912-12-06

several messages. 1t was devoted to our
foreign relations and in part was as foi-
lows: &
To the Senate and House OF Represen--
tatives: The foreign relations of the
United States actually and potentially ar
feet the state of the Union to 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, intellectual,
and material relations of the family OF
nations should be a matter of vital inter-
est to every patriotic citizen. The nation
al 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 export trade of the United
States has already made that trade
very real factor in the Industrial ana
commercial prosperity of the country
With the development of our industries
the foreign commerce of the United States
must rapidly become still more es-
sential 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
foreign policies are based upon an lnte.-
ligent grasp of present-day world con
ditions and a clear view of the potentian-
ties of the future, or are governed by
temporary and timid eXpedlency or by
narrow views befitting an infant nation,
are questions in the alternative consider
alton of which must convince any
thoughtful citizen that no department or
national policy offers greater opportunity
for promoting the interests OF the whoie
people on the one hand, or greater chance
on the other of permanent national In
jury, than that which deals with the for
eign relations of the United States.
The fundamental foreign policies OF the
United States should be raised high above
the conflict of partisanship and wholly
dissociated from differences as to domes-
tic 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 publiclst the wage Garner, the
farmer, and citizen Of whatever occupa-
ton must cooperate in spirit of high
patriotism to promote that national SOIL
darity which is Indispensable to nationai
efficiency and to the attainment OF ma
tional ideals.
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 Amer
ican citizens or interests wherever II may
have been denied and stronger empha-
sis of the need of mutuality In CONNER
ciaI and other relations have only served
to strengthen our friendships with Tor
eign countries by placing those friend
ships upon firm foundation of realities
as well as aspirations
Before briefly reviewing the more I'M
portant events of the last year in our for
eign relations, which 1t is my duty to do
as charged with their conduct and De-
cause diplomatic affairs are not OF a ma
tuer to make 1t appropriate that the sec
retary of state make a formal annual re-
port, I desire to touch upon some or the
% aevnY
foreign relations of the United States and
TO endeavor, also, to define clearly certain
concrete policies which are the logical
modern corrolaries of the undisputed ana
traditional fundamentals OF the Foreign
policy of the United States.
Reorganization of the State Depart
ment.
At the beginning of the present ad-
n1inistration the United States. having
fully entered upon It's position as a world
power, with the responsibilities thrust
upon 1t by the results of the Spanish
American war, and already engaged nj
laying the groundwork of vast for 'Bn
trade upon which 1t should one da 1e-
come more and more dependent. pa
itself without the machinery for pg
thorough attention to- and taxing e,'ec-
tive action upon, mass OF intricate ous-
iness vital to American interests in every
country IN the world.
The deparement of state was an archaic
and inadequate machine lacking most of
the attributes of the foreign office OF any
great modern power With an appropria-
ton made. upon my recommendation ny
the congress on August o, 1909, the de-
partment of state was completely reor-
ganized.
They were created divisions Of Latin
American affairs and of far eastern,
EnTODean
affairs. To these divisions were called
from the foreign service diplomatic ana
consular officers possessing experience
and knowledge gained by actual serv-
ice in different parts of the world and
tlus familiar with political and COM
merciaI conditions in the regions con-
cerned The work was highly special
ized. The result is that where previ-
ousIy this government from time to
tfrlc would emphasize in its foreign
relations one or another policy now
American interests in every quarter of
the globe are being cultivated with
equal assiduity.
Merit System in Consular and Diplo-
matte 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 in
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 application
of the merit principle, with excellent
results. to the entire consular branch.
Almost nothing however, had been
done in this direction with regard
10 the diplomatic service. In this age
of commercial diplomacy 1T was evil
IDENTIFY of the first Importance to train
an adequate personnel in that branch
of the service Therefore, on Novem-
ber 2e, 1909. by an executive order
placed the diplomatic service up to
fhe grade of secretary Of embassy. in
elusive. upon exactly the same strict
non-partisan basis of the merit sys-
I'm rigid examination for appoint
ment and promotion only for eff
cheney 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
ROTATED. but to my regret was unable
20 consummate. two arbitration trea-
ties which set the highest mark OF
- -osDtratfon of nations toward the