Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-12-05
Asks Congress to Lift For
eign, Policies Above Par
tisanship; Proud of Ex-
pansion of Trade.
TREATS OF NATIONS -.
FOREIGN RELATIONS
Advocates Passage, Of Bill
Recommended by Knox
Permitting the Applica-
ton of Graduated Duties.

Washington, D. c., Dec. "a note
Of warning to European powers which
by indirect means continue to dis
eliminate against American trade; a
strong appeal to the congress to up
lift the great foreign policies of Amer
lea above mere questions of partisan
ship; triumphant vindication OF the
diplomacy of the administration, which
Is characterized as that of dollars vs.
bullets; a masterful pride in the
enormous expansion of American trade
as a Aresult of the foreign policies OF
his administration; and an earnest
appeal for joint action by congress
and the executive to open new mar
kets for American industries-these
are the more striking features of
President Taft's fourth annual message
sent to congress today. 80
The message is the first of series
of such communications and deals en-
tirely with the foreign relations OF the
United States. Beginning with the
usual reference to the existing good
relations with foreign powers, the
president adds that these have been
strengthened by "a greater inslstence
upon Justice to American citizens, or
interests, wherever it may have been
denied, and a stronger emphasis of the
need of. mutually in commercial and
other relations" ~
Has Received Good Treatment.
For the first time in it's history says
the president the state department
has obtained substantially the most
favored nation treatment from all or
the countries of the world. Therefore.
he says that it is only natural that
competitive countries should view
with some concern the expansion or
our commerce. Hence the warming,
eff in some instances, the measures
taken by them to meet it are not en-
tirely equitable, remedy should be
found" <...
To this end. the president strongly
recommends the enactment OF the Dill
recommended by Secretary Knox last
December. permitting the government,
instead of imposing the full maximum
rates of duty against discriminating
countries, to apply graduated scale
of duties, UP to that maximum of TWEEN
ty-five per cent. e.s
The, state department. IAN archaic
and inadequate machine" at the begin
ming of this administration. the presl-
dent says, has become new organlza-
ton, with highly specialized bureaus
and experts dealing with every phase
of American trade and diplomacy.
Holding that the essence OF this re-
organized service is found in the merit
system. which President Cleveland IS
credited with having introduced, Presl-
dent Taft makes strong appeal to
congress to make this machine perma-
nent, by giving the force of statutory
law to the executive orders governing
admission to and promotion in the dip
lomatic and consular services.
To show that these appointments
are already largely non-partisan, the
president points to the fact that three
Of the present ambassadors are hold
overs; that of the ten he has appoint
ed, FIVE were by promotion from the
rank of minister: that OF the thirty
ministers appointed eleven were pro-
motions; and that in the consular
service no less than fifty-five per cent
of the consuls appointed by him were
from the southern states.
The president adds that because
modern diplomacy is commercial,
there has been a disposition in some
quarters to attribute to it none but
materialistic aims
"How strikingly erroneous Is such
an impression may be seen from a
study of the results he said.
Help Others to Help Selves.
I'm Central America the aim has
been to help such countries as Mica
ragua and Honduras to help them
selves" says President Taft. While
they are the immediate beneficiarles,
the profit to the United States is two
fold, he adds. The Monroe Doctrine
Is more vital in the neighborhood of
the Panama canal. and such countries
should be relieved of the jeopardy Of
heavy foreign debts likely to provoke