The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-07-07
FOREIGN RELATIONS
MUST PLAY SECOND
FIDDLE FOR awhile
Wilson Determined That Moth
ing Shall Interfere With
His Program
TARIFF AND BANKING
QUESTIONS UP FIRST
Until These Are Disposed II
Little More Than Neces-
sary Will Be Done in
Diplomatic Circles

WASHINGTON, July s-The fall
ure Of the Wilson administration to
make greater progress toward dispes-
ing of the numerous vexatious mat
ters Of foreign relations confronting
this government is due to the desire
OF President Wilson to concentrates
on his mbitious program of both
tariff and currency reform legislation
At this extra session of congress. Tbs
has been most clearly indicated ra-
Gently in official quarters.
President Wilson has practically
issued an order to the State Departs
ment that the White House be not
worried with matters of foreign re-
lattonE any more than is absolutely
necessary and that as far as possible
settlement of existing controversies b
deferred until congress is safely ont
of the way and the chief features e.
the administration program are sattc-
faCtorly disposed of
viii Take Hand Himself.
The president, II is understood, IL
not content to let Mr. Bryan go ahead
with such matters as the Panama ca
nal dispute with Great Britain while
the White House is necessarily abb
sorbed with matters on Capitol hill.
Mr. Wilson is determined TO go into
such matters of foreign relations him.
self and until he can find the time to
give them serious study is unwilling
that much shall he done in them by
his secretary Of state. His determi-
nation II exercise the guiding hand
in the conduct of the foreign relations
of the I'niter States was revealed
early in his administration when he
wrote with his own hand and issued
from the White House the statements
regarding I.atin-American policy and
tho with travail of the United Statfs
from the sextuple loan negotiations
with China. Also ii was the president
who wrote the first note in reply to
I the Japanese protest against the CALI
foruia alien land law.
If X were possible the president
would include the Japanese contro-
versv among those matters which are
TO he laid on the shelf until tariff and
currency are out of the way. Only
the strong pressure from the Japan
csc government prevents this being
done.
The japanese Question.
There is now a well defined impress
sion in Washington that the Wilson
administration hopes 10 protract~ the
negotiations with Japan over a long
period of time. so that the day OF
settlement may he deferred as long AZ
possible.
The Panama canal controversy has
{
understood that In this case the other
interested party. Great Britain. has
been informed that her case has been
tabled for the present, and that she
cannot expect any proceedings toward
a settlement until the tariff and cur
rency bills are passed by congress
The Colombian governments cor-
,roversv with the United States over
Panama is likewise rolled up in moth
balls at the state department and will
probably not see the light of day In
MFR. Rryau's office until cold weather
has arrived.
Another issue that has been stored
away in the archives is the matter OF
restoring treaty relations with Russia
and the question of the treatment OF
American Jews by tho cars governs
ment. Curtis Guild, ambassador -
Russia. il now in Boston. his tenure
of office 10 cease as soon as his pres
ent leave of absence expires No ono
has been selected IN his place.
In South America.
Outside of the recomme ndation tnai
the treaty with Nicaragua negotiated
nv the Taft administration providing
the Cession to the United states OK
the perpetual and exclusive right 70
build an inter- oceanic canal through
that country and a naval base site
on the gulf of Fonseca, be confirmed
nv the senate. state department.
has done. nothing decisive in regard
10 I.atin-American relations. ssss
The most pressing question in Laty
in-America today is the Mexicnn sit
uation. of course. The situation. now
ever, is being handled on day-to-day
basis without definite purpose De-
yond that of conserving the intereste
Of the United States by application ox
the most ordinary rules of diplomats
and International relationship.