Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1912-12-04


bassadors now serving held their pres.
ent rank at the beginning of my ad-
ministration. OF the ten ambassadors
whom have appointed five were by
promotion from the rank Of minister.
Nine miIigters now serving held their
present rank at the beginning of the
administration OF the thirty ministers
whom / have appointed. eleven were
promoted from the lower grades or the
foreign service or from the department
Of state. or the nineteen missions In
Latin-America. where our relations are
close and our interest is great. fifteen
chiefs of mission are service men.
three having entered the service during
this administration. III
The thirty-seven secretaries of en-
bassy or legation who have received
their initial appointments after passing
successfully the required examination
were chosen for ascertained fitness,
without regard to political affiliations.
dearth Of candidates from southern
and western states has alone made 1t
impossible thus far completely to equal
lie all the states representations in
the foreign service. In the effort to
equalize the representation of the va
rious states in the consular service
have made sixteen Of the twenty nine
new appointments as consul which
have occurred during my administra-
ton from the southern states. This Is
55 per cent Every other consular APP
pointment made, including the promo
ton Of eleven young men from the con.
sular assistant and student interpreter
corps. has been by promotion or trans
fer, based solely upon efficiency shown
in the service.
Larger Provision For Embassies and
Legations Recommended.
In connection with legislation for the
amelioration of the foreign service, l
wish to invite attention to the advisa-
bility of placing the salary appropria-
lions upon a better basis. | believe
that the best results would be obtained
by moderate scale Of salaries, with
adequate funds for the expenses OF
proper representation, based In each
case upon the scale and cost Of living
at each post, controlled by system of
accounting and under the general di-
rection Of the department of state.
In line with the object which have
sought of placing our foreign service
on basis Of permanency, l have at
various times advocated nro-'~'
congress for the acquisition Of govern
ment owned buildings for the resiueu.e
and offices of our diplomatic officers, so
as to place them more nearly on an
equality with similar officers Of other
nations and to do away with the dis
elimination which otherwise must nec-
essarily be made in some cases in favor
of men having large private fortunes.
Diplomacy Handmade Of Commercial
intercourse and Peace.
The diplomacy of the present ad-
ministration has sought to respond to
modern ideas of commercial inter
course. This policy has been charac.
terized as substituting dollars for bull
let's. 1t Is one that appeals alike to
idealistic humanitarian sentiments, to
the dictates Of sound policy and STRAIT
egg and to legitimate commercial
aims. 1t Is an effort frankly directed
to the increase of American trade upon
the automatic principle that the gov
eminent of the United States shall ex-
tend all proper support to every legiti-
mate and beneficial American enter
prise abroad. How great have been
the results of this diplomacy, coupled
with the maximum and minimum pro-
vision Of the tariff law, will be seen
by some consideration Of the wonder
full increase In the export trade Of the
United States Because modern d.
plomacy Is commercial there has been
disposition In some quarters to at
tribute to 1t none but materialistic
aims. How strikingly erroneous is
such an impression may be seen from
study Of the results by which the
diplomacy Of the United States can be
judged. g&
Successful Efforts I'm Promotion Of
Peace.
In the field of work toward the ideals
Of peace this government negotiated
but to my regret was unable to con-
summate, two arbitration treaties
which set the highest mark of the
aspiration Of nations toward the sub
stitution Of arbitration and reason for
war In the settlement of international
disputes. Through the efforts Of
American diplomacy several wars
have been prevented or ended. re-
fer to the successful tripartite media
ton 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 Haiti and the Dominican
Republic were on the verge Of hostil-
tiles; the stopping of war In Nicara.
qua; the hating Of internecine strife
In Honduras.
The government Of the United
States was thanked for its influence
toward the restoration Of amicable re-
lations between the Argentine Republic
and Bolivia. The diplomacy Of the
United States Is active In seeking to
assuage the remaining Ill feeling be-