Evening journal., 1901-11-11
GENERAL WILSON DISCUSSES OUR
RELATIONS WITH LATIN AMERICA

ciciOn. While Mexico Venezuela and
Cuba have received substantial evil
dence OF our good will and friendship.
they have also had some reason to sus-
pect our entire disinteresbedness.
While they recognize the "Doctrina de
Monroe" as a doctrine of benevOlence.
uhey have some fear THAT it may ulti-
mately become a doctrine of "benevo-
lent assimilation" Deny and disguise
IL as we will, it is an open secret that
while the Latin American republics
regard it as a doctrine of protection
against outsiders, they fear that it may
yet become a doctrine of conquest for
insiders.
That an effective, memorable and
prohtable way can be found to this end
FOR them and us alike, | do not doubt.
At all events, those who have the sub
ject in mind may well consider the
suggestion which | venture TO make
that the time has come when we should
seek for basis of commercial rela-
tionship with our neighbors. broader
and more philosophical than that of
mere reciprocity, which, as at present
understood is at best a matter of barter
in commodities
Inasmuch as under the Monroe Doe
trine, which one of our most distin-
gulshed statesman has declared to he
as much il not more commercial than
it is political, we have assumed the
burden of protecting the neighboring
States from foreign aggression. the
question naturally arises, why should
we not try to get some commercial ad-
vantage from them which, while ii may
make them licher and dstrOnger would in
measure, cOmpensateusf for our trouble
and expense? They are clearly under
the American hegemony. and if the
Monroe Doctrine is to be maintained.
they are clearly within the American
system of public law In other words.
as indicated in the notable letter be-
fore referred to, "The United
States are Sovereign in the
Western Hemisphere" That is. as I
read it. our national will must prevail
in all cases where we choose to assert
it. if we are strong enough to enforce
il. and We arc pledged to enforce ii in
all cases where European governments
seriously encroaoh upon the territorial
integrity or the sovereignty of any
American state
Under this aspect of our relations
with them, why should the United
States not say frankly to all the States
Of North America. at least, we will
agreo 10 absolute and reciprocal free
trade in natural and maatfactured
products, between cur country and all
its dependencies wherever situated, on
the one hand and all the Immediately
af.fr rlf.r hr
under a uniform tariff to be agreed |
upon by the parties to the arrange
ment. and to be carried into effect as
against all other countries? | do not
say that the time has come when such |
an arrangement as this can be carried |
into effect. 1t would doubtless be re-
iected at first by one or more of the !
interested. and would GER
tainly meet with the opposition OF the
protected interests everywhere. Much
discussion would necessarily follow be- !
fore the public mind could be brought |
to understand and acccpt IL. but / do
not doubt that the time will come when
this measure. or some modification of
IL will be adopted by every North |
American State and dependency. / do \
not venture TO suggest it's extension to
the South American Republics for thel
present. Obviously its immediate
effect would be TO unite the countries
acceding to IL into "A commercial union
or zOllveuein, with an aggregate pOpu-
lation of something like 100000 900 OF
people, about 35,O0O,O0O of whom. now
living outside of the United States,
would henceforth sell their raw mater
Ia 1c and no otttt.a1 1oroIustfoue 10 ~ opJ
buy most of their manufactured goods
and provisions from us. If this arrange
ment were at the same time connected
with stipulation on our part that the
United States would respect the pOliti-
cal independence and the territorial
integrity of the States entering into
commercial union with us. would it
not also end their apprehension of
conquest and benevolent assimilation,
and to mankind at large amount to a
solemn dedication of the entire cOnti-
nent forever to the cause OF peace?
Would it not greatly enrich us as we'll
as cur commercial allies. ana at the
same time become a better common
defense against the European coalition
with which we are now so frequently
threatened than any number of battle
chips we could build or any army we
could raise and put in the field?
I wish to clear away certain mis-
conceptions which many Of you have
doubtless formed in reference to the
climate and resources of Cuba, Porto
Rico. and the other islands of the
Greater and Lesser Antilles and To
their adaplability to the requirements
Of the white race. Many writer's, and
notably Benjamin Kidd, in these later
days lay it down as an indisputable
proposition that the white man cannot
maintain his social efficiency unim-
paired in tropical countries, and there
fore they complicate all discussions
ais to what shall be done with those
countries by another "indisputable
proposition" that they must be given
up to cOl0red and inferior races, unfit
for self government. and consequently
destined TO pass under the arbitrary
control of the white governments Of the
temperate zone. Both Of these propO-
sibiOns I deny. Speaking from my own
observation and somewhat extended
study of the question. I have not the
.f4.. q A l. L. a