Scrutinizing Taft and Knox's Foreign Policy Record

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William Howard Taft/Philander Knox" Served as President/Secretary of State from 1909-1913

Personal Characteristics: Taft - Unimpressive, Worrisome, Obese. Knox - Expressionless, Boujee, Quick-Tempered

Taft - the Handpicked Man: Taft, unlike Theodore Roosevelt, did not want the presidency. His detractors say the only reason that he won his election is because of TR's influence to ensure he succeeded him. Michael Fowler stated that “Taft had been Roosevelt’s hand-picked successor within the Republican Party. And, in fact, ‘TR’ really extended himself to ensure that Taft got elected.” 

Taft - A Memorable President, but Not How One Would Think: “At times critics derided Taft for worrying too much about rampant executive power. Yet the subsequent rise of the ‘imperial presidency’ has shown Taft’s apprehension to be … not preposterous. He’ll never be regarded as a great president or even a good one, but perhaps someday his obesity may cease to be his legacy.”

Knox - Description by Author: “He (Knox) was short, smooth, pale, and expressionless, a porcelain egg of a man, weighted in place, yet tilting to the slightest touch. His dark blue eyes started in different directions. No spoon could crack him open for inspection. In the words of a frustrated interviewer, ‘He offers no points of attack.’” Besides his personal characteristics, Knox used his lawyer money to live a lavish lifestyle, even living in a mansion on K Street. 

Taft & Knox - Desired to Reform the Secretaryship: Elihu Root, Knox’s predecessor, took on much of the burden of the role of Secretary of State, refusing to delegate the role to others below him. However, once Knox came into office, he, along with Taft, elected to reform the department. “It was their goal to bring about greater efficiency in the working of the Department itself and to make it a better instrument for giving assistance to Americans interested in foreign trade and investment. 

The International Context: 

Unrest in Mexico: Even though Latin America as a whole was volatile, which Taft and Knox would find out soon enough, a major revolution of note during their time in office came in Mexico, in which Porfirio Diaz was overthrown by revolutionary forces. The issue would slide into America’s interest once Americans residing in Mexico felt unsafe, and desired a possible U.S. intervention in the matter. The instability in the Mexican central government would continue into the Wilson Administration. 

The Tripartite Group: While this event would eventually fall into the hands of Knox and his accomplishments and drawbacks, this development began before his time as Secretary of State, and almost finalized during his time serving. This group, “consisting of French, English, and German bankers negotiated an agreement to lend money for the construction of two important railroad systems, one from Hankow to Szechuan and the other from Hankow to Canton.” If this loan had occurred without U.S. involvement, it would mean that major economic growth for Europe and China would occur, giving them a leg up over America.

Key Foreign Policies: 

Treaty Traditionalists: The Founding Fathers of America were keen on keeping America out of any entangling alliances, a policy which has gradually been wasted away by each presidential administration. In the case of Taft and Knox, however, they shared similar beliefs to the founders. “Knox, in his thinking on foreign policy, accepted the tradition which barred all political agreements that might entangle the United States in the quarrels of Europe. Neither he nor Taft believed in the annexation of a territory, for that would mean permanent political ties and greater expense for the American taxpayer.” This perspective, however, would not last.

Dollar Diplomacy: In an attempt to modernize America’s economy and those they dealt with, Taft and Knox attempted to institute the policy of “Dollar Diplomacy,” substituting “dollars for bullets” when dealing with foreign states. Furthermore, Taft believed that this policy was “an effort frankly directed to the increase of American trade upon the axiomatic that the Government of the United States shall extend all proper support to every legitimate and beneficial American enterprise abroad.” Finally, this policy fulfilled America’s “obligation to help nations in trouble, and the best way to do so was through the stabilizing agency of loans.”  

Opposed the Monroe Doctrine: Unlike Teddy Roosevelt, who wanted to expand upon the Monroe Doctrine, Taft and Knox saw the policy as unfair and justifiable to both Latin America and Europe. Knox and Taft “felt that it was unfair to use the Monroe Doctrine as a device to prevent European nations from interfering in Latin-American affairs and then to deny American responsibility when one of these republics got into financial trouble. 

Aggressive Policies Toward China: Taft and Knox, advocates for trade to expand American commerce, saw China as a golden opportunity. Therefore, they enacted aggressive policies in order to act quickly in the interest of American enterprise. Taft supported the Open Door policy, and wanted to create trade relations with China that would be lucrative enough for the state to be able to maintain the policy on its own. Taft “advocated administrative and governmental reforms in China and the development of its natural resources; these measures, he believed, would ultimately enable China to enforce the Open Door policy without foreign assistance.” 

Positive Achievements: 

Deal with Argentina: While this achievement ended up having extreme drawbacks, this particular event must be highlighted as a positive for Taft and Knox. The deal with Argentina, after a myriad of issues with negotiations, fell into the hands of the Americans. The agreement allowed for American firms to construct two new warships for the state of Argentina, a deal that Taft and Knox saw as a homerun, since it fulfilled their desire of furthering American business and commerce. 

The Hukuang Loan: While this event would also come with its fair share of drawbacks, this event displayed the negotiating savviness that Taft and Knox sometimes held. After getting into the negotiating game with China and the three European countries late, they were able to salvage the deal and bring the United States into the field. This deal allowed for the Americans to provide loans to China for railroad development, another area of economic improvement for Taft and Knox. Furthermore, the deal may have fell through if Taft were not able to swoop in to save it at the eleventh hour. “When the Chinese continued to evade and delay, Knox enlisted the aid of President Taft. In July, the President’s personal appeal resulted in China’s capitulation.” 

Negative Drawbacks: 

Late to the Party: This criticism largely falls on the shoulders of Knox. As Elihu Root heavily took on the burden of Secretary of State, Knox may have delegated too much of the work to subordinates. As stated by Scholes, “... the aggressive policies pursued by Knox in Latin America were largely unsuccessful. With his habit of leaving things to his subordinates, the Secretary tended to wait until a real crisis arose before he assumed command.” If Knox were more pragmatic, he could have possibly instituted Dollar Diplomacy more effectively. 

Central American Failure: As stated before, Mexico was extremely unstable while Taft and Knox were in office. Knox in particular attempted to employ the Dawson Pacts to not only stabilize Mexico, but other states in Central America, such as Nicaragua, a state that America occupied during their time in office following the execution of two Americans by the Nicaraguan dictatorial government. The Dawson Pacts, while at first targeted at Nicaragua, were used to create a new constitution for the state, prosecute the murderers, and use America’s help to gain loans. Not only did these pacts stall in negotiations with Nicaragua, the Senate also failed to ratify them. In short, Knox’s attempt to win Mexican cooperation failed, and so did his efforts to neutralize Honduras. The results of the Secretary’s policies in Central America could hardly be termed successful.”  

Latin American Failure: This failure coincides with the small victory of having American businesses constructing the two new Argentinian ships. The deal itself almost fell through because America attempted to settle debt with Chile, which created unrest in the region against the United States. The aggressiveness that Taft and Knox implemented in the region, while smart on the surface, lacked a context of prior relations in the region, along with an understanding of America’s perception by the states in the area. “The whole effect of Knox’s policies was to create a great reservoir of ill will in Latin America, which contrasted strikingly with the kindly feeling that Root had cultivated so assiduously and had bequeathed to his successor.” 

The Hukuang Loan: Following America’s victory in striking a deal with the Chinese and Europeans for railroad loans, relations between the Americans and Europeans, specifically the three states involved in the agreement: France, Britain, and Germany, soured. Put simply: “Knox had won his victory, but at the expense of antagonizing three European governments.” This mainly revolved around American tardiness to the negotiations, along with its insistence on having a deal struck with them involved, rather than waiting for a new deal with China to arise. 

Failure in Manchuria: Yet another blunder by the tandem of Taft and Knox. In this case, Knox attempted to achieve Chinese sovereignty in Manchuria, which would have begun through the Chinchow-Aigun railroad project. However, there were multiple issues with this. First, to have this done, it would have required Japan’s exit from the region, which was impossible because it was territory that they earned through war and negotiations. Second, it was equally as impossible to imagine Russia willingly leaving the area as well, as they did not want to obtain any more losses after the Russo-Japanese war. This may have been the biggest mistake of Knox’s career. Scholes stated that “the American policy in Manchuria had failed. It had won the ill will of Russia, irritated Japan, and failed of support in France and England.” 

Final grade: F/ While Taft and Knox had solid intentions on furthering American commerce through Dollar Diplomacy, their methods were unbelievably dumb at times. The only two true victories during their time in office were marred by even greater failures, compounded by other instances of failures, with no positives to break the fall. Taft and Knox clearly displayed either or both a lack of understanding or desire to truly enhance American foreign relations while they were in office. While Theodore Roosevelt clearly had his flaws, he at least was somewhat foreign policy savvy. When I imagine Taft and Knox attempting to enact proper foreign policy initiatives, I think of an old man who has no technical experience trying to build a computer. 

References: 

1. “Taft on Dollar Diplomacy, Dec. 3, 1912,” in Brockway, ed., Basic Documents in U.S. Foreign Policy, 2nd ed., 59-60. 
2. Walter Scholes, “Philander C. Knox,” in An Uncertain Tradition: American Secretaries of State in the Twentieth Century, Norman Graebner, ed. (New York: McGraw Hill, 1961), 59-78. 
3. Michael Fowler, “A Portrait of President William Taft.”
4. “Philander Knox,” in Edmund Morris, Theodore Rex (New York: Random House, 2001), 61-62.