Tillerson, on first day, addresses dissent and calls Mexico, Canada

U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson arrives to deliver remarks to Department of State employees at the Department of State in Washington, U.S., February 2, 2017. REUTERS/Joshua Roberts

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson called for unity and understanding on his first day at the State Department amid internal dissent over policies of President Donald Trump, which have also antagonized a range of allies.

Within hours of starting the job, Tillerson reached out by phone to counterparts from Mexico and Canada, spoke by phone with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and met with German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel, department officials said.