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Show MESSAGE TO CONGRESS Taft Appeals for Uplift of Foreign Policies Warns Europe. Washington, Dec. 3. President Taft's first message to tho last session ses-sion of congress In hlB term was received re-ceived with close atteution or both branches when legislative business belgmi today. Dealing entirely with rcrelgn relations and America's commercial com-mercial progress In foreign trade, the rafissago paved the way for others the chief executive will sond later dealing with tho big questions of legislation zCnd government Washington, Dec 3, A note of warning to European powers, which by indirect means continue to discriminate dis-criminate against Amorican trade: a strong appeal to tho congresB to uplift up-lift the great foreign policies of America above mere questions of partisanship; par-tisanship; a triumphant vindication of the diplomacy of the administration which is characterized as that of "dollars "dol-lars versus bullets," a masterful pride in the enormous expansion of American Ameri-can trade an a result of the foreign policies of his administration, and an earnest appeal for Joint action by congress and the oxecutlve to open new markets for American industries these arc the more striking fcaturos of President Taft's fourth annual message mes-sage sent to congress today. First of Series. The message is the first of a scries sc-ries of such communications which he will make to congress in the early days of the session, and deals entirely entire-ly with tho foreign relations of tho United States. Beginning with tho usual reference to the existing good relations with foreign powers, the President adds that these have been strengthened by "a greater Insistence upon Justice to American citizens, or interests, wherever wher-ever it may have been denied, and a stronger emphasis of the need or mutuality mu-tuality in commercial and other relations." rela-tions." U. S. Most Favored Nation. For the first time In its history, says the President, tho state department depart-ment has obtained substantially the most favored nation treatment from all of the countries of the world. Therefore, he says, it is only natural that competitive countries should view with' some concern tho expansion of our commerce. Hence the warning, "If In some Instances the measures taken by them to meet It arc not entirely en-tirely equitable, a remedy should be found." Recommends Knox Bill. To this end the President recommends recom-mends strongly the enactment of the bill recommended by Secretary Knox last December, permitting the government, gov-ernment, Instead of Imposing the full maximum rates of duty against discriminating dis-criminating countries to apply a graduated grad-uated scale of duties up to that maximum max-imum of 25 per cent Flat Tariffs Out of Date. "Flat tariffs are out of dato," says tho President "Nations no longer accord equal tariff treatment to all other nations Irrespective of tho treatment treat-ment from them received. It is very necessary that tho American govern ment should be equipped with weapons weap-ons of negotiation and adapted to modern conditions." State Department Modernized. Tho state department, "an archaic and Inadequate machine" at tbo beginning be-ginning of this administration, tho President says, has become a now organization, with highly specialized bureaus and experts deallns with every ev-ery phase of American trade and diplomacy di-plomacy Holding that the essence of this reorganized servico Is found in the merit system, which Prosident Cleveland is credited with having Introduced, In-troduced, President Taft makes a strong appeal to congress to make this machine permanent by giving the force of statutory law to the executive execu-tive orders governing admission to and promotion in tho diplomatic and consular services. Appointments Nonpartisan. To show that these appointments are already largoly nonpartisan, the President points to the fact that throe of tho present ambassadors are holdovers: hold-overs: that of the ten he has appointed, appoint-ed, five were by promotion from the rank of minister, that of tho thirty ministers appointed, eleven were promotions; pro-motions; and that in the consular service ser-vice no less than 55 per cent of the consuls appointed by him were from the southern states. Dollars for Bullets. '"The diplomacy of the present administration ad-ministration has sought to respond to modern ideas or commercial intercourse," inter-course," says President Taft. "This policy has been characterized as substituting sub-stituting dollars for bullets. It is ono that appeals alike to Idealistic humanitarian human-itarian sentiments, to tho dictates of sound policy and strategy, and to Io-gklmato Io-gklmato commercial aims." The President adds that "bocause modern diplomacy is commercial there has been a disposition in somo quarters quar-ters to attribute to It none but materialistic mate-rialistic aims." "How strikingly erroneous Is such an Impression may be seen from a study of tho results by which the diplomacy di-plomacy of tho United States can be Judged," says tho President Arbitration Treaties. Ho mentions tho arbitration treaties with France and Great Britain, which failed of confirmation in the senate; tho successful tripartite mediation of the Argentine Republic, Brazil and the United States between Peru and Ecuador; Ecua-dor; the arbitration of the Panama-Coata Panama-Coata Rica boundary dispute; the intervention in-tervention between Haiti and tho Dominican Republic on the verge of war, the suppression of the Nicara-guan Nicara-guan war. tho halting of Internecine strife In Honduras, tho adjustment of the celebrated Taona-Afrlcan dispute i between Peru and Chile, and the ad- H justment of the Pcruvian-EIcuadoreau i. H boundary Issue. 1H U. S. Active In Diplomacy. H In consequence of these things, says (H the President, there has been a gen- ). H cral easing of International tension H on tho west coaBt of South America H He also adds that the diplomacy of ( H tho United States Is active In seek- ' H ing to assuage the remaining 111 feel- H Ing between this country and Colom- H bia. ; Taking up some of tho details of tho I year's diplomatic work, the Prosident M refers with expressions of pride to fH China, where "tho policy of encour- H aging financial Investment to enablo H that country to help Itself has had jH the rosult of giving new life and prac- H tical application to the open poor H policy. --H The consistent purpose has been to H encourage the use of American capl- tal In China, says the President, to H promote tho reforms to which that , H country Is pledged by treaty with the f H United States and other powers. There ; H has been a vigorous assertion, alBO, H he says, of tho equal right of tho IH United States to a voice In all quea- H tlons pertaining to Chinese loans and H developments. M Makes Direct Charge. H President Taft makes the direct chargo that the terrible evonts re- H corded In Nicaragua recently, tbo use- H less loss of life, the devastation of H property, tho bombardment of the H principal cities, tbo killings and the H tortures and suffering "'might have H been averted had the department of H stato, through approval of the loan H convention of the senate, been permit- ted to carry out its now well devel- oped policy." M "In Central America the aim has 'H been to help Buch countries as Nlcara- gua and Honduras to help them- reives," says the President H Monroe Doctrine Vital. M While they are tho Immediate ben- ellciaries, tho profit to the United Statos Is two-fold, he adds. The Mon- H roe doctrine is more vital in the IH neighborhood or tho Panama canal H and such countries should be reliev- H ed or the Jeopardy or heavy foreign M debts likely to provoke international H complications. The financial rehabilitation of these H countries by Amorican bankers and IH tho protection of their customs house3 H from boing tho proy or would-bo die- H tators, says the President,, would re- H move the menace or foreign creditors - and revolutionary disorder Further- b more the United States would profit j largely In a business way through the development of tho great natural re- t sources of Central America. H Commends New Neutrality Laws. H Commending tho successful results 'H of tho application or tho new neutral- H Ity laws to Moxlco and othor trou- H bled countries, tho President suggests H that means be found in addition to IH prevent the professional revolution- IH Ists from making American ports IH "foci" for revolutionary intrlguo. He H H reiterates his determination to adhere H in tho case of Mexico to tho "patient H policy of non-interference, stoadfaat H recognition of constituted authority : H and the exertion of every effort to H protect American interests." H Exports Over the Billions. H Other paragraphs of the message IH point to tho increase of American do- IH mestic exports by 200,000,000 during the past year, making the greatest H total over known, $2,200,000,000; to the IH agricultural credit system, which he H thorouhgly indorsed, to the probable . H necessity of an amendment to tho IH tur seal act to permit limiting kill- -M ing or seals; to a meeting or tho ar- IH bitrators In Washington noxt year to H adjust tho pecuniary claims between H Great Britain and America, to nego- H tlations with Mexico for tho distribu- H tion of the waters of the Colorado H river In the Imperial valloy section, H and to the financial rehabilitation H of Liberia. H Thoro Is merely historical reference H to the Chincso revolution; to tho San H Domlngan troubles, the rebellion In H Cuba and tho Balkan war develop- H monta, In which it is said the United States Is not Involved. Appeal for Co-operation. t Tho message concludes with an earnest appeal to congress to co-op- erate with the executive in its effortB to apply the old principles of diplo- f macy which have governed the country, coun-try, tho momentous new situations of j today, when America finds itself at tho threshold of her middle ago as n nation, "too maturo to continue In Its foreign relations those temporary tempo-rary expedients natural to a people to whom domestic affairs are the sole concern." |