The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-08-15
TIE SECRETARY or STATE.
An Enlarged star Of Experts Necessary
I'm Present lncert les.

~ THE GSDlTOR OF HE SUN-6W. ~
Its almost sure enbarrassments to neu
trails a time like the present never has
arisen. Always much has been uncertain
In the law of nations. In respect of much
Of II that has seemed certain great un.
certainty has lately come to exist.
In case II be affirmed that the President
and Secretary OF state are equipped al
ready with the full set OF living tools
needed by them at this crisis, It must
then be admitted that they have beer
ridiculously overequipped In time of peace
We shall not disparage either the abll-
ity or the intelligence OF the Secretary
staff In saying that for the probable short
lasting OF this war the membership ought
To be Increased at once and very greatly.
No one can compute the multitude OF the
perplcxlng questions which either loom up
already or whose outline cannot be dis
tinguished.
our first business liz to keep ourselves
out of mischief. We can do this only by
preparing ourselves beforehand to decide
these questions the best way we can when
obliged TO decide them upon the instant.
They must be decided upon precedents
where they are we'll settled and the situa-
ton has not been changed since the time
OF the presidents, and upon the eternal
laws OF impartial uprightness (even II II
be against our own present seeming in
''iV oSy WhtTt tney are nOI WtII Ntttltu
or whore a wholly new situation will
have arisen.
To each member OF such temporary
corps OF aids should be assigned a special
and very limited province of inveStiga
tion. Not only should he prepare minute
indlces and cross references in respect OF
all known presidents and OF all conjectur-
able situations within his special province,
but also he should search exhaustivcly for
IA n ,avio nj tfn,
Each should be provided with a stenogra-
pher. In such labor this provision would
enable him to do Ave times the work and
to do 1t far better Each should aim at
making himself as nearly as possible
ready to lay before the President, the
Secretary or any senator within a few
hours after reauisition upon him brief
which would doubtless he imperfect yet
helpful In regard to a detail lying within
his assigned province. Such task Of
timely preparation, n II is 10 be done
quickly, Is really terrible. but distribu-
ton and allotment would make II far
easier.
To say that nobody should receive an
appointment who desires IL might in some
cases be going too far. None hut long
students of international law should be
appointed. although special talent might
not be necessary Politics should, for the
moment. be utterly disregarded. n II
can be managed all nominations should
be made by the universities. In order To
get Views from all points nominations
should be solicited from foreign unlversi-
ties as well. A hundred thousand dollars
expended In moderate salaries for this
distinguished employment might save us
billions In tho end.
One or more such aids should he fur
nlshed to Governor Gosthals. and they
should carry full outfit of authorities
speedy advice upon a fun knowledge of
the facts may at some time he indispens-
able. What could never be expected
should always b. awaited.
For such temporary stan duty several
navy officers should be detailed, in case
experienced students of the law of nations
can be found In the navy. The name Of
a certain writer on sea power will occur
to the reader. Though that subject liz only
collateral. the great general intelligence
which he has shown In discussing prac,l-
cal situations would make him very help
ful
The number Of bslligerent countries may
increase. However minor the accessions
any might add greatly to the complica-
tons A. to how long the war may last
actively and how long may shoulder. any
one can guess Az well as any other one.
IN" dogs OF war may very soon b. ST.
fenced. Bits Of meat thrown judiclously
sometimes enable us to hear "A pin drop
otten these bits are poisoned but are
ereedlly devoured. Such bits possibly
were Elsass and Lothrlngen. Such per
haps will prove at last the dismembered
kingdom of Poland
Added to the duties OF such n tenn.
porary stan should be the devising OF
ways and means to help our merchant
marine without risk OF ENVIRONMENTS This
Is as the handling of nitroglycerine To
Tear nothing Is to know nothing Often
10 Know much il to fear too much
IT the ascertainment of the Just and
equitable" charges OF traffic of panan.,
should be turned over to the Supreme
Court the charges would h, Increased
three or four times This would soon
restore our ship building industry and
give us practical monopoly of a very
considerable portion Of the worlds com.
'nerce The act OF July 3, 1884. provides
that no toll shall be collected In any canal
owned by the United States IT Is only
= treaty with Great Britain that prevents
the extension OF this act to American
vessels In the Panama Canal II we col.
lect the lust and equitable" charge i'm
partially from all ships Nncluding oven
our varshipsI We can relieve our own
vessels by equivalent or perhaps Increased
aid To do so could not with a spark
OF truth he called giving a subsidy or
nouhtN. II would merely he the means.
and the only means, Of extending the
operation OF the noble act to this distant
American canal. without infringing unon
the Hay-Pauncefote treaty.
MARsroN NILES