Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-03-03

there must be an overhauling and
undermining Of the instruments of
diplomacy. The old silk-hatted dip
lomacy that disguised by courtly ETH
quette its ignorance of the ordinary
interests Of the common man must
give way to more realistic type OF
dealing. In palmer English STILL this
means that, in addition to our taking
on the World Court, extending the
scope Of arbitration and articulating
our relations with the League, We must
proceed as well with a far-reaching
reform of the State Department and
the diplomatic service, both in struc-
ture and in personnel.
This is primarily a matter of budget.
If for the next four years there were de-
voted TO the improvement of our diplo-
matte service the equivalent of not five
cruisers a year but only one, the in
creased efficiency in administration at
home and representation abroad would
do more than any increase in the fight
ing forces of the Nation to safeguard
our real interests in the world for the
increased intelligence would in the very
nature of the case be concentrated upon
the improvement of pacific relationships
which are the guarantee of continuing
prosperity.
The Rogers BILL designed to take the
diplomatic service out of politics, was a
doubtful blessing when not supported by
sufficient budget to make the diplo-
matte career possible on the basis Of
pure merit. Any reform in this regard
would be supported by the country at
large If it were given to understand
that the increased expenditure meant
increased competence.
Armaments Question Is Serious.
In avoiding the role Of prophet. we
have so far kept away from the specific
and detailed problems which will be-
confronting the next administration.
But there is one that cannot be passed
by, that Of ornaments, their relation
to diplomacy on the one hand and the
Nations business on the other. This Is
perhaps the most serious immediate
question before the United States in
the field Of international relations. We
shall deal with it from two points Of
view, first, the cruiser question and
naval rivalry and, second, the traffic
IN arms.
The best settlement of the Anglo
American naval rivalry would be for
both nations to take the Kellogg BRAND
! treaty at Its face value and frankly re-
adjust their naval strategy according to
its terms, which are nothing more or
less than that both nations give up the
right to use the navy against each other
as the instrument OF American or OF
British policy. Strictly speaking, the
Kellogg pact has enacted on the seas
| the second of President Wilson's IA
| points, that there shall be complete
| freedom on the seas except as they are
closed in whole or in part by interna-
| tional agreement for the maintenance
of international rights.
Pure nationalism in terms OF war u;
banned from the seas henceforth. This
is not the old freedom Of the seas, but
! 1t Is better one. and II the two nations
could be brought to see that they
nave reached this point in their politi-
cal commitments the problem Of sea
strategy will be changed into the less
serious and infinitely less costly duty
| of an agreed police.
! But 1t takes time to learn and still
longer to apply the great lessons embod-
led in treaties of this kind; and. in the
interval the easiest settlement is for
both Britain and the United States to
accept parity substantially where they
| stand at present and to stop any IN
crease that bears the slightest resenl-
blance to a naval race
1t Is perfectly true that there Is no