The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1915-02-03
ASK COOPERATION Of Government
IN.ESTABu|SH|NG AVORLD TRADE

forded by the foreign offices Of every
world power but our own.
This defect in our foreign policy
can only be remedied by wider and
clearer understanding OF the whole
question and the resultant action OF
public opinion. What we need Is a
settled and dependable policy, and our
form OF government no policy can be
constant unless based upon a com.
polling public opinion. That we
have wise and courageous men at the
head OF our government does not
suffice. Four years is as a day In
the life OF nation, and effort Is
wasted as long as It Is possible to
have one foreign policy on March g..
and another on March &. Further.
more, our public men are necessarily
limited in their activities by how far
the country can be induced to follow
them, and we must recognize that
limitation.
You need not talk TO more than
half dozen men on this subject be.
fore being confronted with such ques.
tons as Are we going to send good
Americans into foreign countries to
be shot'just to protect omebody's in.
vestment" Are we going to incur
the risk OF war for the sake OF n
little trade? Are we going to turn
our navy into collection agency7.
These questions may express a mar.
row point of view, but they are too
frequent and too significant of the
general trend of thought not to make
and secretary Of state consider how
far he can go and still preserve his
usefulness. From the first all efforts
TO improve the consular service and
make more effective all governmental
agencies for disseminating informa.
ton as TO foreign markets and trade
customs have met with hearty ap.
proval from the general public, and
the development of these government.
tai aids has consequently been con.
tinuous and more or less constant.
But when any action looking toward
tho aid of commerce through plan
OF state that might involve this coun.
try politically with any foreign power
has been proposed or instituted, the
American public has baked and the
plan has failed.
"The American public was willing
to support Secretary Hays policy Of
an open door and equal opportunity
In China. but when Secretary Knox
followed with tho most ambitious
plan ever undertaken by American
diplomacy, which cOnsistcl in actual.
~ putting some enc through tho open
door and FIRM" placing the United
Statea IN tho tNrts1':, barqGrn II meant
meeting the world on the Pacific and
surrounding oursclve7 with political
obligations IN! re- 1pn-lBflities in the
manner nf turr- an siSteq. the
American rgb'ic wor!d not foiiaw him.
| and tha pm h'rIusL Yhaiiy faIin,I.
Secretary En'''' ~. sro-fc--l nolIcv
met with public aTpreval as long rs
- was %i'hnrt >h:ga;i"r. BIZ: The
treaty 9TH Eaat'uraa il,pt a-sume,l
I. tepl oh'ira':pnS rai,fl 9. ratification.
W H'l' e.enlun'ly win to q dc.
nonHab!r fcre:Fn pclIc;2, hrt not until
ihe General public Genes 70 recognize
that foreign trade Is m !nseparabIe
part If domestic trade: tia: It IL not
3 camille for tie fcw, bu: the bust.
ness Of the nation: that its benefits
do not stop with the banker and FOR.
o'En trader. b;:t extend TO every form
OF labor md agriculture; that It is
worth tho expenditure for lnaiatain-
ing az army and navy. and, II ncces
snry. The expenditure nt human life.
TO protect 1t; that foreign Affairs and
responsibility abroad are inevitable
to nay people who have done their
duty at homes
"The fullest possible publicity
should be given to any new foreign in.
.terprise so that its character can be
recognized and the reasons justifying
IT understood. The nationality of its
ownership should be clearly identified
and complete record OF the essen.
tial facts concerning II filed with the
state department. II It is based upon
contracts or government concessions,
the state department should be aware
of their character and in position
to determine whether or not they are
in conflict with any policy of our own
government before they are accepted.
For q score of years, in respect to
business. this country has stood as
house divided against itself. We have