The Washington herald., 1915-06-09

were ratified by the Senate. 1t has
been an open secret in diplomatic quar-
tiers that the powers which joined Mr.
Bryan in these treaties felt that they
had secured a great advantage over the
United States.
Always chary of discussing matters
of foreign relations. Mr.. Bryan was
ever eager to talk of his peace treaties
During the process of their negotia-
ton he displayed a child-like delight
in them. In fact, one diplomat once
said: 'It is no use to try to discuss
foreign affairs with Mr.. Bryan. He is
not in the slightest degree interested
in them. He wishes to talk only of his
peace treaties. temperance. and re-
ligion."
Distrusted Department Personnel.
He made no secret of his belief that
the State Department had hitherto been
dominated by the .'plutocratic interests.
His first announced object was to throw
overheard dollar diplomacy. and his first
step in this direction was the dismissal
of such men as he found in the depart
ment as had been trained in the idea of
managing foreign relations in manners
best calculated to aid American trade
interests abroad Yet it was not six
months before Mr.. Bryan was before the
Senate Committee on Foreign Relations
advocating the Knox treaty with Mica
ragua, which was the chief exponent OF
so-called dollar diplomacy. He went fur
ther, and advocated an addendum to the
treaty establishing an open protectorate
over Nicaragua, which was vastly more
than Mr.. Knox had ever dreamed Of pro-
posing.
AntAEOnixed Business Men.
Those American business men who had
occasion to go to Mr.. Bryan with their
problems found him suspicious. distrust-
full and openly antagonistic. His every
public writing or discussion of American
trade abroad, in the first months Of his
Secretaryship, found him reiterating the
thought that he intended to compel
American business men abroad to reform
their methods. He accused those with
interests in Mexico and elsewhere Of sell
fish greed in having gone outside the
United States to make money. There
was no disagreement with his view that
only honest American business projects
should have the support Of the govern
; ment, but there was general disagree
ment over his Interpretation and applica-
ton of this principle. Though Mr.. Bryan
professed desire to encourage American
investment abroad, particularly in Latin
America and the Far East. 1t Is fact
that up to the remarkable situation ere
ated by the war in Europe hardly a new
American dollar was sent outside the
country IN development projects. Ameri-
can capital refused to invest in the I'M
developed copRtries Of the world because
of fear that Mr.. Bryan would not sup
port American investors in case Of diff
culties.
Next to his desirstto make war i'm.
possible was his desire to bring about
a state Of brotherhood between the
United States and the republics OF
ILatin-America. To bring this about
he was willing to make any sacrifice.
Once he told an American interested in
Mexico that for the sake OF gaining
the confidence of the South American
countries Americans must give up all
idea of Intervention in Mexico.
Department Denorali.ed.
It may be said that. aside from the
general subject of peace. Latin-Amert-
can matters were the only ones COM
ing to his desk in which Mt. Bryan
manifested q deep interest. John Bas-
sett Moore despaired Of Mr.. Bryan, nnd-
Ing Il impossible to bring the Secre-
tary to ehare his view Of or interest
In the many important matters with
which he had to deal as counselor.
Many Instances occurred Of M.
Bryan losing papers, forgetting 20 sisn