Evening star., 1929-01-01
Peace Power.

1cdCG 1UWGT.
Few New Years in the annals of the
United States foreign relations have
set in amid background of greater
constructive achievement than that
which distinguished the twelvemonth
just gone. 1t Is a record of which
Americans have right to be proud.
It entities to high rank the statesmen
most directly concerned with max
| ing it.
Frank Billings Kellogg, on the basis
of events in 1923, joins honorably the
roster of cotemporary Secretaries of
State, adorned by names like John
Hay, Elihu Root, Philander C. Knox,
Robert Lansing and Charles Evans
Hughes. The Minnesotan will pro-
spectively retire from Office with the
advent of the Hoover administra zion.
Mr.. Kellogg leaves the State Depart
ment distinctly richer in respect Of
gained objectives than when he be-
came its head four years ago. His place
in the diplomatic history of his coun-
try is secure.
The merest tabulation of CLOSED in
cidents"-to lapse into its own YER
nacular - reveals the magnitude and
the Importance of the State Depart
ment's 1928 activities. They began
with the sixth Pan-American Confer
ence at Havana, in which President
Coolidge and Secretary Kellogg per-
sonally participated From an assem-
blage often surcharged with gunpowder,
the United States emerged with colors
flying.
Deliberations among the American
states in Cuba were constantly over
shadowed by the uncertainties of de-
velopments in Mexico and Nicaragua.
Yet within a very few weeks of the
Havana conference the United States
relations with both of those countries
became normalized. Our long-standing
difficulties with Mexico were effectually
settled, while Nicaragua, under request
ed American tutelage, proceeded on
her way to political tranquility.
Still another 1923 peaceful achieve
ment stands to this countrys credit in
Latin America-the ending of the an
cient dispute between Chile and Peru
over Tacna and africa. Directly at the
instigation OF our State Department
they agreed to resume diplomatic nego-
tiations and take positive steps to ban
ish South Americas Alsace Lorraine to
the limbo of the forgotten. 1t is an
open secret that the influence of the
United States was not the least con-
siderable factor in ironing out the latest
controversy between Latin republics
the quarrel which recently threatened
war between Bolivia and Paraguay.
In the Far East the meteoric rise of
Nationalist China, with its imperious
warning to Orient and Occident alike
that the old days of foreign domination
were gone, conjured up grave problems
for American diplomacy. Under Secre-
tary Kellogg they were tackled with
vigor and vision. The United States
led the way to recognition of Marking
Only within the past few weeks have
other powers, tardily acknowledging the
wisdom of the American initiative, fol-
lowed suit
The Kellogg multilateral pact for re-
nunciation of war is, of course, the
crown jewel in the diadem of present.
hour American diplomacy. Before many
weeks are past fifty-nine nations will
have formally and finally identified
themselves with it. 1t is not designed
to usher in the millennium. But it is a
war-weary worlds longest step toward
the distant goal of irrevocable peace.
The Senate and the people of the
| United States should not be unmindful
Of one cleaning fact, as they contem-
plate Americas successes in the diplo-
matte realm. Behind such accomplish
ments lies power. Power, International
ly, means sea power. Sea power, as
used by the United States, is power for
peace. The United States Navy needs
cruisers if that power is to continue to
be utilized as it has been used during
| the past fruitful year.