The Washington herald., 1913-08-03

into the new ADMINISTRATOR
Anything less than the portfolio {
Secretary would have been beneath HI
dignity. He took the chair formerly ot
cupied by Jefferson, Clay, Webster
Marcy, and Blaine Like them, he wa
chosen because of his political statur
rather than diplomatic ability, althoug
these men had this ability also. and MI
Bryan may demonstrate that he has It
Best Lawyer obtainal'le.
As the second in command the Pres
dent desired the best international lawye
he could obtain. and he early fixed upol
John Bassett Moore, the Hamilton F1s
professor Of international law and diplo
macy at Columbia University. Mr.
Moore's Accomplishments can no bette
be described than by the title page OF hi
eight volume work printed by the Unite;
States government in 1906. Here 1t is
A Digest
OF
International Law
as embodied in
Diplomatic Discussions. Treaties and
Other International Agreements, Inter.
national Awards. the Decisions Of
Municipal Courts and the
Writings of Jurists,
and especially in
Documents, Published and Unpublished,
Issued by Presidents and Secretaries
of State of the United States.
The Opinions of the Attorney General
and the Decisions of Courts. Federal
and State.
John Bassett Moore. LID,
Hamilton Fish Professor of International
Law and Diplomacy, Columbia UNI
versity. New York: Associate of the
Institute Of International Law: Some
time Third Assistant Secretary of State,
and Assistant Secretary of State of the
United States; Author of a Treatise on
= Extradition and Interstate Rendition. of
American Notes on the Conflict of LAVE
OF a History and Digest of Internationa!
Arbitrations, of an Exposition of the
Spirit and Achievements Of American
Diplomacy, &c.
Twcnty-eight Years Service.
The title page might, but does not. re-
cite that he came to Washington with
Thomas F. Bayard, Secretary of State
in 1855. and that his success as law
clerk led to his appointment as Third
Assistant Secretary of State the follow
ing year, after which he was called to
the chair of international law at Column
bia University.
When the Spanish American war
brought problems, Mr.. Moore, although
a Democrat. was appointed Assistant
Secretary of State by President McKin-
ley. Upon his shoulders fell much of
the heavy work of the State Department.
He was in office during a period which
saw the war begin, the victory of Dewey
at Manila, and its attendant friction
with the German fleet, and the world
readjustment incident to Spain's retire
ment from the Western hemisphere.
Mr.. Moore went to Paris as secretary
and counsel of the Spanish-American
Peace Commission, and bore a vital part
in the framing of the treaty which gave
America the Philippines and ushered In
the era OF first-class participation in
world politics. That task completed, Mr.
Moore returned to his university. His
services were drafted by Presidents
Roosevelt and Taft. who sent him as
delegate to the Pan-American con-
crosses at Rio Janeiro and Santiago.
Ponderous volumes came from his pen,
and his services as a consultant In in
ternational litigation were in highly prof.
liable demand.
Only President Wilson's strong per-
sonal request, the arguments OF many |
friends that the nation needed him, and |
realization that great problems awaited |
solution could nave induced Mr.. Moore |
to return to Washington.
The extra-legaI post of Counselor of
u
salary, but officially ranked lower than
the Assistant Secretaryship, which Mr.. 1
Moore occupied in 1898. AS an added ]
inducement. President Wilson provided
that in the absence of the Secretary of |
State Mr.. Moore should act as Secre-
tary. At other times he is. as the title
of his offlce indicates, a consultant.
The administration contemplates a pol
icy; Mr.. Moore passes on its feasibility
and makes it workable. The extent Of
the Presidents confidence in Mr.. Moore
was revealed early in the aim nistration. i
Secretary Bryan was absent and certain L
foreign affairs were under discussion at
the Cabinet meeting. Mr.. Moore was
summoned and sat with the Cabinet
throughout the meeting, an almost unpre-
,edented proceeding. Old White House
were unable to remember when
m Assistant Secretary had thus been
summoned.
Great Diplomatic Ability.
Mr.. Moore is an ideal complement for
me Secretary of State. Mr.. Bryan, al |
ways the evangelist, bubbling over with
!ar flung ideas of international peace.
-atin-American concord and worldwide
friendship, is comparative stranger to :
International law and scarcely on speak
ng terms with diplomatic precedent. |
Herein Mr.. Moore's detailed and MASTER
ul knowledge Of International law, his I
instructive diplomatic ability and his wide
Of world affairs supplies his 1
hit S deficiencies. That Mr.. Bryan | ?
tands In need of such an aid was DEM (
nstrated last March. After agreeing b
With the President that the United states Ia
hould no longer support the proposed | I
Six Power loan" to China Mr.. BRYAN c
nnounced the decision through the news \
apers, and through this agency the for / 4
ign governments which for two years I o
ad been working harmoniopsly with the Il
United States to consummHte the L,an I,
eceived their first news that America 4
ias abruptly quitting the partnership. n
With John Bassett Moore IN the depart- , =
lent such q thing would not have hap u