OCR Text |
Show CHANGES COMING. Dr. Henry Van Dyke has resigned his post as minister to the Netherlands, and it is said John W. Garrett of Baltimore, former minister to Argentina, will be appointed to fill the vacancy. The minister min-ister to Colombia and the minister to Siam have tendered their resignations, and it is said all the rest of the American diplomats are expected to follow fol-low suit, and that the service will be thoroughly reorganized. This does not moan that all of the men who now represent rep-resent this country abroad are to be retired re-tired to private life, for some of them are diplomats of the highest order, and it would be difficult to fill their places. Dr. Van Dyke could have remained in Holland had he so desired, and others could be named who will be asked to stay in the service. Prior to the advent of Roosevelt in the White house the diplomats were not expected to resign unless they felt so inclined, and most of them remained at their posts until their successors arrived ar-rived with the proper credentials. This was particularly the case when a change of administration did not involve a change of parties as well. Roosevelt, however, established the precedent of calling for the resignations, and the custom has been followed ever since. Every American citizen realizes that the country needs the very best men obtainable at the capitals of the European Eu-ropean countries now at war and that the need for the services of such men will be imperative aftor the war is over and the competition over the trade of the world begins. They also realize that we need the very .best material in 'fevery position from ambassador down to commercial agent or consular clerk. From present indications we are led to conclude that the government and the business interests are to work in harmony in the foreign trade field, and if this be true the administration should see to it that the men sent abroad by this country are in every way fitted for the responsibilities placed upon them. The men commissioned commis-sioned by the European countries are trained in the service and promoted from time to time according to their fitness. If we are to gain the best results re-sults we should be compelled to follow the same system. However, there can be no objection to removing the barnacles barna-cles as a starter, .but politics should cut no figure in the reorganization. |