Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1914-03-15
f NANCE HALTS
MARCH BECAUSE
Of BRYAN DELAY
Boersianer Blames Mexican Pol
icy of Administration for Slow
Improvement in Markets,
BY RoERsIANER.

decisive defeat of Huerta or Carran-
"a might conceivably have made an
abiding impression on international
finance and diplomacy. Chancellerles
everywhere had prepared to make diff
fercnt moves on the diplomatic chess
board. Markets, American and Eu-
ropean, had expressed, in an appre-
cable measure, the mortal or politi-
cal passing of either one of the Mex
lean soldiers of fortune.
But that the shooting of a ranch
owner in Mexico would agitate mar
kets and dlplomatists was not on the
cards. Benton's execution was "the
apparently negligible act (which
quickly developed into a diplomatic
fact of the first order" to employ a
gallicism.
That fact, unfortunately, disclosed
the pathetic weakness and incompe
tency OF the State Department in
Washington; or, more accurately, the
astounding amateurshness in inter-
national matters Of the Secretary of
State. Mr., Bryan betrayed himself
to be a Minister of Foreign Affairs
who is entirely foreign to such af
fairs. Commodore Vanderbilt's early
estimate of William II. Vanderbilts
abilities is proVerbia in Wall Street.
He thought Bill" could make more
kinds OF fool OF himself than any
being he had ever met,
Bryan Like Bill"
An American with a natural pride
in his country thinks Of Vanderbits
Bill" when he contemplates the
moves of the "Bill' In the State De-
partment. No wonder that John Bas-
tn
partment, resigned in disgust. 1t Is
not an edifying spectacle, that of a
brigand general in Mexico outwitting
an American Secretary of State on
a Fundamental principle of diplomacy.
Finance took note OF II and the re-
suit was not stimulating. Fortunate
w, the intrinsic situation is sound,
else the effect on business might nave
been perceptible.
Books about Disraeli still are
eagerly read. The mans romantic
career Che himself was innately ro-
manticist), his strangely fascinating
personality, the that of mystic orl-
entalism in his character, are arrest
ing. But the books written by MN
have lost their vogue, which is pity,
for they contain much which is con
temporaneously valuable. In MS last
novel. "Endymion," he makes Lady
Montfort say to the hero, This Is
political economy Parliament, potn
sides alike thinking Of the price OF
corn and all that. Finance and COM
merce are everybodys subjects and
are most convenient to make speeches
about for men who can not speak
French and who have no education.
want to see you give your mind to.
foreign affairs. But foreign affairs
are not to be mastered by mere poll
ticians. Orators do not make Cham
oellors of State
Applicable to Secretary.
In this passage Disraeli was aiming
at Gladstone (called Joyrocks in the
novel;, his opponent in Parliament,
whom he always stigmatized as
mere politician and talker. But the
allusion is peculiarly applicable to-
day to the gentleman who Is mis-
conducting our Foreign Office. Before
Disraeli had become Prime Minister
he had been Chancellor of the Elk
cheduer. He had an excellent idea OF
political values. He knew by expert
ence that a commanding presence In
the Foreign Office meant everything
to a country 1t was he who Sc
cured control of the Suez Canal FOR
Great Britain, who made Victoria
Empress OF India and who prevented
Russia from becoming paramount In
the Orient.
Seemingly, President Wilson has
Just discovered there is something
rotten in the State Department; has
suddenly realized that to give finance
and commerce value, there must be
ability OF the highest order in for
eign matters
Legislation 10 Uncertain.
To make amends. or in the at
tempt to mend the many serious
breaches, the President evidently
wishes totrade off the country's pro-
rogative in Panama for the support
Of foreign nations in his future course
in Mexico
II is not yet certain that the Ad
ministraticns financial and CONNER
cial legislation (to which it has de-
voted all its timel. will prove bene-
iicial. II is certain that its foreign
policy, or lack of II, has been detri-
mental: detrimental not only in a
political sense, but also in a business
way, The withdra wal from the Chi
uese loan was hurtful 1t had. for
one among many things, a dampen-
ing effect on the commercial phase
of the consular corps. 1t conveyed
the impression that the American
diplomatic service and business fur
.herance we're incompatible. There
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