Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-12-05

promoted from the lower grades Of the
foreign service or from the department
of state. OF the nineteen missions In
Latin-America, where our relations ara
| close and our interest is great, fifteen
, chiefs Of mission are service mon,
three having entered the service during
this administration.
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
| A dearth of candidates from southern
and western states has alone made it
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 l
have made sixteen Of the twenty-nine
new appointments as consul which
have occurred during my administra-
ton from the southern states. This Is
IS per cent. Every other consular ap-
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 q moderate scale Of salaries, VIII
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 d.
rection of the department Of state.
In line with the object which l have
sought of placing our foreign service
on a basis of permanency, l have at
various times advocated provision by
congress for the acquisition Of govern
ment owned buildings for the residence
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 nee
essarily be made in some cases in favor
of men having large private fortunes.
Diplomacy a Handmade Of Commercial
Intercourse and Peace.
The diplomacy Of the present adj
mnistration 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
egy 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
a disposition in some quarters to at
tribute to it none but materialistic
aims. How strikingly erroneous Is
such an impression may be seen from
: 4 study Of tho results by which the
diplomacy Of the United States can be
judged.
Successful Efforts In 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. I 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-
tween this country and the republic Of
Colombia. In the recent civil war in
China the United States successfully
joined with the other interested powers
in urging an early cessation Of hostili
ties, An agreement has been reached