Evening star., 1901-09-13
Minister Loomis at the Naval War
College.
TALKS ON SOUTH AMERICAN AFFAIRS
Necessity of the Great Waterway
to This Country.
UNITED STATES DUTY
A special dispatch to the New York Trf-
bune from Newport, r. l., dated yesterday.

Francis B. Loomis lectured before the
Naval War College class this morning on
South American affairs. The lecture was
scheduled to have been delivered last Mon
day morning, but on account Of the critical
condition of President Mckinley on Sun
day it was decided by Captain French E.
Chadwick. president Of the War College,
to postpone the lecture until this morning,
trusting that the recovery of the Presi-
dent would be advanced to a point where it
would not be necessary to indefinitely post
pone the lecture, on account of its import
ance at the present time.
Mr.. I.oomis was formerly minister to
Venezuela, and. 1t was in his term OF office
there that the asphalt troubles took place
He has given deep study to South American
affairs, and his utterances on the subject
at the present time are Of Importance.
1t has been the custom to invite disttn-
guished persons to be present at the most
important lectures at the War College, but
today no one was present except the MEM
berS of the class.
Minister Loomis spoke in substance as
follows:
1t cannot be doubted by those familiar
with conditions in certain Latin-American
countries. in the tropical parts of South
and Central America. that some of the most
embarrassing questions which the United
States will have to meet in the future will
arise from it's relations with those repub-
icate nature will arise through no wish or
fault of the government of the United
States. We have no quarrel with any OF
our sister republics. We wish them well.
Our generous spirit, our unfailing good tenn
per and good nature In respect to them has
been demonstrated upon many occasions,
and through long term of years. We
gave to the Latin-American republics vital
ly important moral support in their strug-
gle for independence. We helped them to
keep and to profit by the advantages they
won; we sent the first diplomatic represen-
tative to them when they passed from the
sway OF Spain. and we have never ceased
To express a kindly feeling for them and
helpful. considerate interest in them. The
power of our example has moved many OF
the strong nations of the world to maintain
not unfriendly attitude toward the small
Latin-American republics, and in this way
our steady friendship has been OF untold
value to them. All this should stand to
our credit in Latin America. We must al
ways be just in dealing with the Latin
American people, but there Is no reason
why we should not. at the same time. be
just to ourselves and to the demands and
responsibilities Of our great future.
We have a right to expect that every
nation will develop a certain standard of
responsibility and civilization. We may
differ as to our standards, but there Is
pretty clearly defined minimum Of prog
ress, power and civilization which we all
agree must be attained by every govern
ment and people which expect to remain
respected member of the family Of nations.
South Americas Turn to Come.
The world has as yet made no demand
upon the productive capacity Of South and
Central America. This vast portion Of the
western hemisphere has been reserved for
the future. But In the strenuous rivalry
| for vaster commercial relations every
available part of the earth's surface will
be scanned and, one way or another, every
land will have to respond to the worlds
demand. We have entered upon a new
phase of national life. Does any one fancy
our activities will be forever limited to
present responsibilities? We cannot enter
upon a career of conquest, but we may
properly seek with all OF our earnestness
and power the peaceful triumphs of amc-
able Intercourse and reciprocal commercial
relations. We cannot close our eyes or turn
our backs to the opening vista of expand
ing influence and opportunity. II our COM
mercial sway Is to be widened the build
ing of an isthmus canal is the first essen,
tial step In that direction, and 1t logically
follows that control Of the canal must be
with us. The building OF an isthmus canal
will be Of enormous benefit in a material
way to the Latin-American republics bor-
dering the Caribbean sea and those through
which the proposed waterway may pass.
The foreign trade of these countries will
expand They will have the advantages
OF closer and more frequent connection
with our Pacific coast and with Europe.
1t Is reasonable to suppose that immgra-
ton, Of which they stand SO much in need.
will rapidly increase. and that there will
be an influx Of foreign capital. The COM
ing OF foreign capital and foreign-born
citizens OF good character to countries torn
by frequent revolutions is always fortu-
nate. The advent Of Industrious foreign
ers make for peace and stable conditions.
The president of a South American re-
public once told me that II he could get
$1,000 families from Europe or North
America to settle in one of the rich valleys
of his country near the capital their pres
ence would put an end to disorder and rev.
olution and guarantee an era Of profound
peace.
The United States md the Canal.
The consideration Of the effects, present
and remote, of the building of an isthmus
canal upon the destiny of some of the
Latin-American republics becomes. In fact,
a discussion of the far-reaching results
which the successful completion of this
great project will have upon the future
policy, power and growth of the United
States itself. 1t seems, no doubt. to many
students Of these questions that the control
of the Caribbean sea and its littoral must
inevitably fall to the United States. and be
essential to it's proper. facile dominion Of
the canal route: to the assurance of its
power actively to defend or support the
principles Of the Monroe doctrine and to
give necessary protection to Its possessions.
l do not fancy the American people want
more territory. 1 take 1t that there Is
nothing we more earnestly desire, in re-
Spect to the repuDllcS OF the new world,
than that they shall become prosperous,
happy progressive nations, blessed with the
most highly intelligent, just. eral-minded
and stable governments. The United States,
1t seems to me, no more covets the countries
to the south of her than she does Turkey
or the Balkan states. But what we want
is that our neighbors In tropical Central
and South America shall become prosper
GUS and possessed of the capacity to enter
upon large reciprocal trade relations with
Every consideration Of civilization and OF
self-interest prompts us to wish for this
state of affairs. In the meantime we must
recognize existing conditions in tropical
Latin America. 1t is my opinion that the
better class Of Latin-Americans are dis
posed to entertain friendly feeling for the
United States. They understand us better,
and know that our purposes are pure. Un-
fortunately the intelligent class is not
everywhere a dominant political force In
some of these countries 1t Is forced into OBJ
scurity and silence through fear OF oppres-
sion and cxtortion. Governmental control
is too often in the hands Of military ad-
venturers who seek power and its use
solely for their own advantage and profit.
and who are as Indifferent to international
obligations as they are incapable OF un-
derstanding or formulating a broad national
or international policy.
II ia with men Of this sort that the 0nv.