THE FOREIGN POLICY OF WOODROW WILSON

1913-1917

CHAPTER I

FOUNDATIONS

New Forces in Control of the Government of the United States-Existing Problems in Foreign Relations - Previous Record of the Democratic Party - Attitude of the New Administration Relations with Latin-America - United States and China Japanese in America. Policy of President Wilson upon the Problem of Government in Mexico - Dependencies of the United States - Peace Projects of the Wilson Administration.

WOODROW WILSON did not refer to foreign policy in his first inaugural address. Although this silence was generally expected, it served to emphasize at the outset of a Democratic administration the domestic character of the interests and pledges of the Democratic party. Foreign policies had not been debated in the campaign for the presidency in 1912.1 Except for a veiled reference to a

1 The Democratic party platform for 1912 had planks calling for an immediate declaration of American purpose respecting the independence of the Philippines, favouring an exemption from tolls of American coast-wise ships, and upholding the action of the Congress in a recent dispute with Russia, but none of these matters were in controversy and the Democratic victory brought none of them to the fore.

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withdrawal from the Philippines,1 the president-elect in the interval prior to inauguration had given no indication of a program or a policy in respect to the relations of the government of the United States with the nations of the world.

Yet there were not lacking persons who pointed out that the Democratic party and its leader were by record and word opposed to the tendency and much of the content of the foreign policy pursued by the Republican administrations. Particularly was this true of the spirit of the Knox diplomacy and, had not the voters and political parties been absorbed in matters of domestic interest, it is certain that much would have been said of foreign policy, especially of "dollar diplomacy," in the campaign of 1912.3 There had been expectation in certain quarters, both at home and abroad, that the coming of the new administration would mark especially a change in the attitude of the government of the United States in matters relating to the Central and South American

1 President-elect Wilson had said in a public address on December 28, 1912, "The Philippine Islands are at present our frontier, but I hope we presently are to deprive ourselves of that frontier." Chicago Record-Herald, December 29, 1912.

2 Summary of expected changes may be found in "Will the Democrats Reverse our Foreign Policy?" American Review of Reviews, XLVII, 83 (January, 1913).

3 The term "dollar diplomacy" was applied to the activities of Secretary Knox in securing opportunities for the investment of American capital abroad, particularly in Latin America and China. The policy was severely criticized not only by the Democratic party, but by a progressive element in the Republican party. See La Follette's Weekly, March 22, 1913; March 29, 1913. President Taft defended the policy of his Secretary in his message to Congress, December 3, 1912. Congressional Record, XLIX, 8.

republics. But whatever the anticipation, the public was not to be long in doubt, for there were issues at hand to test at once the purpose of the incoming administration.1 Events in China and Mexico had been so shaping themselves in 1912 as to bring forward problems for an immediate consideration on the part of the United States. The increasing strain in the relations with Colombia, a result of the part played by the United States in the Panama revolt of 1903, demanded relief.2 The exemption, by the Panama Canal Act of 1912, of American coast-wise shipping from the payment of tolls had called forth protests from Great Britain which remained to be satisfied.3 To forestall any possibility of a rival canal it was necessary to bring to success the negotiations with Nicaragua for the control of the only other routes.*

1 For review of events in 1912, see P. S. Reinsch, "Diplomatic Affairs and International Law, 1912," American Political Science Review, VII, 63 (February, 1913).

2 The Taft administration had attempted to settle the controversy by proposing to purchase from Colombia certain privileges in that country and to award preferential treatment to its ships in the use of the Panama Canal. Colombia peremptorily refused to accept these proposals, February 15, 1913.

3 The British government claimed that the provision of the Act of Congress, August 24, 1912, authorizing this exemption and denying the use of the canal to ships owned by trans-continental railways, violated the Hay-Pauncefote treaty.. President Taft expressed his willingness to submit the whole matter to arbitration, but the Department of State in its note of January 17, 1913, contended that there was neither violation of the treaty nor substantial injury to foreign shipping. The reply of the British ambassador was received February 27, 1913.

4 A proposed treaty with Nicaragua, signed February 3, 1913, would have granted to the United States exclusive rights over Nicaraguan canal routes and for the establishment of a naval base. Before this treaty had been acted upon by the United States Sen

The Taft administration had refused to renew a commercial treaty with Russia, because of the discrimination by that government against American citizens of the Jewish race, and trade between the two nations depended on the mutual good will of the respective governments, until a new treaty should be arranged.1

Perhaps President Wilson had some of these matters in mind when he said in his inaugural address that the nation sought to use the Democratic party "to interpret a change in its own plans and point of view." But this is doubtful. He was at that time referring to such matters as tariff and currency, which he went on to discuss. It is significant, however, that before measures on either of these subjects had been launched in Congress, in fact before the Congress had assembled in special session, the President had found it necessary to state the position of the administration upon certain matters of foreign policy in such terms as to show that there were, indeed, to be decided changes in the plans and point of view of the government of the United States in dealing with foreign nations.

LATIN AMERICA

Upon taking office President Wilson faced at once the question of recognition of General Victoriano Huerta,

ate, it was withdrawn because amendments had been suggested which would have established a protectorate over Nicaragua.

1 The treaty of commerce and navigation between the United States and Russia, ratified in 1832, expired January 1, 1913. The Taft administration had notified the Russian government December 17, 1911, that it desired to terminate the treaty on its expiration.