The Holly chieftain., 1912-12-06


Merit System in Consular and Dipio-
matte Corps.
Expert knowledge and professional
training must evidently be the essence
of this reorganization Without q
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 appli-
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 evi-
IDENTIFY Of the first Importance to train
an adequate personnel in that branch
Of the service. Therefore. on Novem-
Der 26. 1909. by an executive order I
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-
tenn. rigid examination for appoint
ment and promotion only for en-
cheney. as had been maintained without
exception in the consular service.
Successful Emorts In Promotion Of
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-
tional 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 Rica to peaceful arbitra-
ton: the staying of warlike prepara-
tions when Hayti and the Dominican
republic were on the verge of hostili-
ties; the stopping of war in Nicarag-
ua: the halting of internecine strife
in Honduras. The government of the
United States was thanked for its in
fuence toward the restoration of amic-
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-Arica 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
of amicable settlement. The position
of the United States In reference to
the Tacna-Arica dispute between
Chile and Peru has been one of nom
Intervention, but one OF friendly in
fiuence 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 life and practical
application to the open-door policy.
The consistent purpose of the present
administration has been to encourage
the use of American capital in the
of China by the promo
tion OF those essential reforms to
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, he'd the department of state early
in the administration to demand for
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 ac-
cord among the powers having similar
treaty rights as ourselves in the mat
ters of reform, which could not be