Montpelier examiner., 1912-12-06


foreign relations and in part was as fol-
lows:
To the Senate and House of Represen-
tatives: The foreign relations of the
United States actually and potentially af-
feet the state of the Union to a 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 II 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 and
commercial prosperity of the country.
With the development of our industries
the foreign commerce Of the United States
must rapidly become a 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 intel
ligent grasp of present-day world con-
ditions and a clear view of the potentiali-
Ties OF the future, or are governed by
emporary and timid expediency 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 of
NATIONAL policy offers greater opportunity
Ior 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 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
vissociated from differences as to domes-
VI r.. N4a .tr,. ~ FaA
United States should present to the world
united front. The Intellectual. financial
and industrial interests of the country
and the publicist. the wage Garner, the
farmer. and citizen of whatever occupa-
tion must cooperate in a spirit of high
patriotism to promote that national soli-
darity which is Indispensable to national
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 inststence upon Justice to Amer
lean citizens or interests wherever 1t may
have been denied and a stronger empha-
sis of the need OF mutually in CONNER
cial and other relations have only served
to strengthen our friendships with for
eign countries by placing those friend
ships upon firm foundation of realities
as well as aspirations.
Before briefly reviewing the more inn
portant events of the last year in our for
etgn relations, which 1t is my duty to do
as charged with their conduct and be-
cause diplomatic affairs are not of a ma
tuer to make 1t appropriate that the sec
retary of state make formal annual re-
port, desire to touch upon some of the
essentials to the safe management of the
foreign relations of the United States and
to endeavor, also, to define clearly certain
concrete policies which are the logical
modern corrollaries of the undisputed and
traditional fundamentals of the foreign
policy of the United States.
Reorganization OF the State Depart
ment.
At the beginning Of the present ad-
ministration the United States. having
fully entered upon its position as world
power, with the responsibilities thrust
upon Il by the results of the Spanish
American war and already engaged nj
laying the groundwork of a vast foreign
trade upon which 1t should one day be-
come more and more dependent. foundt
itself without the machinery for giving
thorough attention to. and taking effec1
tive action upon, a mass of intricate busi
mess vital to American interests in every
country IN the world. /
The deparement of state was an archat3
and inadequate machine lacking most DC
the attributes OF the foreign office of ALI
great modern power. With an approprif
ton made upon my recommendation tsrf
the congress on August s. 1s0s the dc
partment of state was completely reo5a
ganized. N
They were created divisions Of Latinu
American affairs and of far easter ii
near eastern. and western Europeis z
Affairs. To these divisions were calldlfi
from the foreign service diplomatic ana,
consular officers possessing experience
and knowledge gained by actual serv-
Ice in different parts of the world and
thus familiar with political and COM
mercial conditions in the regions con-
cerned. The work was highly special
lied. The result is that where previ-
ousiy this government from time to
time 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 Dlplo-
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 in
the rsorganixed 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
| 70 the diplomatic service. In this age
| ef commercial diplomacy II was evil
| Gently of the frst Importance to train
| an adequate personnel In that branch
| Of the service. Therefore. on Novem-
| Der 2s, 1903. by an executive order l
| placed the diplomatic service up to
| the grade of secretary OF embassy. in
| elusive upon exactly the same strict
| bipartisan basis OF the merit sys-
/ tom, rigid examination for appoint
ment and promotion only for efn-
/ 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
| gotiated. but to my regret was unable
| ties which set the highest mark of
| substitution of arbitration and reason
tional disputes. Through the efforts
have been prevented or ended. ] re-
| fer to the successful tripartite media
ton OF the Argentine Republic. Brazil
| and the United States between Peru
| and Ecuador; the bringing of the .boun7
| ia Rica to peaceful arbitration: the
| staying of warlike preparations when
Hayti and the Dominican Republic were
on the verge of hostllities: the stopping
|