The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1912-12-06
cultivated with equal assiduity
Merit System in Consular and o'p'o-
matte Corps.

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 appll-
cation of the merit principle. with ex-
cellent results, to the entire consular
branch. Almost nothing, however, had
been done in this direction with regard
to 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-
Der rs, 1909, by an executive order
placed the diplomatic service up to
the grade Of secretary Of embassy, in
elusive, upon exactly the same strict
non partisan basis Of the merit sys-
tenn. rigid examination for appoint
ment and promotion only for etfi-
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
to consummate, two arbitration trea-
ties which set the highest mark Of
the aspiration Of nations toward the
substitution OF arbitration and reason
for war In the settlement Of interna-
tlonal disputes. Through the efforts
of American diplomacy several wars
have been prevented or ended re-
fer to the successful tripartite medi-
alton of the Argentine republic. Bra
I'll, and the United States between
Peru and Ecuador: the bringing Of the
boundary dispute between Panama
and Costa RIGA to peaceful arbitra-
ton; the staying of warlike prepare
tons when Hayti and the Dominican
republic were on the verge Of hostili-
ties; the stopping of war in Nlcarag-
ua the halting Of internecine strife
In Honduras. The government Of the
United States was thanked for its In
fluence toward the restoration of annie
able relations between the Argentine
republic and Bolivia The diplomacy
of the United States Is active in seek
Ing to assuage the remaining ill-feel-
ing between this country and the Re,
public Of Colombia In the recent Civ
| Il war in China the United States sue.
cessfully joined with the other inter,
| ested powers in urging an early ces,
sation Of hostilities. An agreement
has been reached between the govern.
ments of Chile and Peru whereby the
celebrated Tacna- africa dispute, which
has so long embittered international
relations on the west coast of South
| America, has at last been adjusted
simultaneously came the news that
the boundary dispute between Peru
and Ecuador had entered upon stage
of amicable settlement. The position
of the United States in reference to
the Tacna-Arica dispute between
Chile and Peru has been one of non
intervention, but one Of friendly in
tiuence and pacific counsel throughout
the period during which the dispute
| in question has been the subject OF
interchange Of views between this
government and the two governments
Immediately concerned.
China.
In China the policy of encouraging
financial investment to enable that
country to help itself has had the re
suit Of giving new 'a and practical
application to the Cp1n-door policy
The consistent purpo Of the present
administration has ben to encourage
the use of American capital in the
development Of China by the promo
ton of those essential reforms tC
which China Is pledged by treaties
with the United States and other pow
ers. The hypothecation to foreign
bankers in connection with certain in
dustrial enterprises, such as the Huku
ang railways, Of the national reven
ues upon which these reforms depend
ed, led the department of state early
In the administration to demand fol
American citizens participation In
such enterprises, in order that the
United States might have equal rights
and an equal voice in all questions
pertaining to the disposition of the
public revenues concerned The same
policy Of promoting international &C
cord among the powers having similar
treaty rights as ourselves In the mat
tiers of reform which could not be
put into practical effect without the
common consent of all, was likewise
adopted In the case of the loan de
sired by China for the reform of its
currency.
Central America Needs Our Help il