Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-07-13
DANIELS SHOWS
RESPONSIBILITY
OF NAVAL MEN
Officers on Wafships Often
Must Be Diplomats, He Says
at War College.

hangs upon the action and discre-
tion of a naval officer commanding
warship in PARKWAY port was
discussed by Secretary Daniels here
today at the opening of the Naval
War College session. He pictured the
duties of the naval officer in the role
of diplomat recalled incidents in
which commanders of American war
ships in foreign ports had opened
new chapters in American history,
and urged officers al the college and
marine officers 10 train themselves in
international law and the languages
in prepare ton for such emergencies.
THE navy. in the technical diplo-
matte sense, said the secretary.
must leave to the department of
state the settlement of international
policies, and properly so; but. in the
practical operations of policies affect
ing other nations the action of the
youngest naval officer commanding
the smallest vessel in a foreign port
might determine the action of our
government, Independent of the poll
cies which the trained diplomats
might have planned In many quiet
officer of the navy
In surveying in exploration, in
protection of Americans. he is often
called to places where no consul or
othr government official has gone. To
those people he inearnates the Ameri-
can government. He is Uncle Sam.
His department. his spirit his ideals
as seen in his dealings. make the first
and often only, impressions those
people have of our country and its
attitude toward them, II he be unin
formed as to the requirements of in
ternational law. what consequences of
evil may flow from his ignorance. II
he lack tact and a sense of courtesy
how he may block the path of his
country to serve the people to whom
he is sent and prevent the opening of
doors through which his countrymen
might enter to promote commerce and
forge ties of friendliness and unity
Praise for Secretary Bryan.
There had been no secretary of
state. Mr. Daniels said, who had
awaited himself more of the service
of the naval officer as a diplomat,
who has shown greater confidence in
his ability, his judgment and his alb
solute trustworthiness than had Sec
rotary Bryan"
He recalled the demand made for
a salute of the Stars and Stripes by
Admiral Mayo at Tampico as an ex-
ample of how the action of a naval
officer in a foreign country precipi-
tated IAN issue not contemplated IN
diplomatic channels. and irreYocably
committed his government to policy
of action in support of his demand.
Perry's achievement in the opening
of Japan to commerce, Dewey's bril-
liant victory and his administration
in Philippine waters, and finally Rear
Admiral Fleteher's occupation of
Vera Cruz We're pointed to by the
secretary as conspicuous instances of
the double service required OF the
American naval officers abroad.
Ambassador Jusserand, of France,
and James Bryce former British ans
bassador to the United States, were
lauded by the speaker as modern
diplomats. who, he said, had re
placed indirectness and evasion with
lirectness and sincerity"
by education, by training and by
character Mr. Daniels continued,
"the naval officer Is not fitted for
diplomacy calling for assembling, for
saving yes and meaning perhaps
or for double dealing. If he Is to-
serve his country abroad for its good
1t must be a service that Is marked
by frankness and sincerity, and it is
that sort of service which made the
diplomacy of Perry and Dewey as
honorable and useful as their emil
nence as sailors and which has given
them permanent place in the affections
of their countrymen. Certainly we may
regard Perry as the greatest dlplo-
mat which the American navy has
ever furnished although most of its
representatives have never failed to
exhibit the high gifts of diplomacy
when called upon to face the situa-
ton which required the exercise of
the art,
Friendship of Japan.
"There lis very recent proof that
Perry was a true prophet when he
foresaw friendship between the
United States and Japan. In the
present Mexican trouble the japanese
have been scrupulous to prevent the
shipment of arms by Japanese manu-
facturers."
If all American diplomacy in the
Spanish American war had been
modelled after that of Perry's, the
secretary declared, "the United
States might not have yielded to the
government had followed closely the
diplomatic pact set by another great
commodore of the United States navy
who himself followed the diplomacy
of Perry and squared his every action
with the basic doctrines of our re-
public, we would not have strayed
so far af1eld. We would at least have
been consistent in our diplomacy; we
would not have laid down one rule for
Cuba and another for the Philip
pines.
Secretary Daniels said he would
like TO draw a picture of the naval
officers "as the man before the gun,
not the captain on the bridge, giving
signals to fire, but the captain, who,
before the anchor has touched the
harbor's bottom. has stepped into his
launch and gone ashore to avert by
his sound good sense, by his tact, by
his judgment, by his courtesy and
diplomatic manner, by his thorough
knowledge of international law and
custom the necessity for using guns
at all, and to whom the country is
eternally indebted for the peaceful
ending of the crisis which rendered
his presence necessary in the first
place.
when you stop to think of it,"
said the secretary, mo representative
of our government. official of unof-
fetal, can command such respect or
can impress another country so deep
~ with the power of his government
as the captain of a warship lying in
the harbor with its decks cleared,
perhaps for action. and its ominous