Speech #600141720

Just as a ship reques a certain complement of officers in proportion to its crew. so for the efficient direction of its efforts the Department of State requires a certain proportional number of higher officials to manage the different parts of the machine. As already indicated. a reason this proportion is high In this department is that that portion of its work which is mere routine is relatively very small. because its work is more varied. perhaps. than that of any other department in Washington. and for that reason different matters have to be distributed in many groups and placed under different supervision. For example. there are matters of trade and tariff and the negotiation of commercial agreements. matters of citizenship. naturalization. and expatriation. matters of extradition. peculiar groups of subjects requiring special knowledge of the conditions in different parts of the world. the separate administration of the diplomatic and consular services. the solidarity of each of which must be preserved. the administration of the department itself. the arrangements in connection with international exhibitions and scientific congresses. arrangementg for the reception of and dealing with foreign ambassadors and other representatives. of whom there is a larger number accredited to this than to any other government. Moreover. it should be remembered that the Department of State is not usually discussing questions of peace or war. but is occupied with matters of the utmost importance to the commnercial or other interests of the whole country. or of individual citizens concerned. or resident abroad. either in furtherance of American commerce or as travelers entitled to the protection of their Qovernment. How great are our vested interests abroad and the number of our citizens representing our national life the world over may be inferred from the estimate that in Mexico alone there are 40.000 American citizens and an investment of $700.000.000 of American capital. The increase of foreign travel may be inferred from these figures: Our outgoing passengers numbered in 1898. 225.411. in 1906. 496.737. in 1907. 569.882. while our immigration has correspondingly increased. But I desire to recur briefly to the testimony of Mr. Root. -He says: Let me give you some figures as an indication of the increase of business in this department.