Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-12-11
THE SOUTH AMER |CANS
Umbrage Taken at the Words
of the President.
RESENT PLAIN SPEECH
GOOD RESULTS EXPECTED FROM
SECRETARY ROOTS TRIP.
1t is Believed That Friendlier Relations
Will Be Established With the
Southern Republics.
RESENT PLAIN SPEECH
BY WILLIAM f. CURTIS.

written for The Star and the Chicago Record
Herald
The diplomatic colony from Latin-Amer-
lea is not entirely pleased with the Pres
idents message. It's members complain
that the part which concerns them sounds
too much like the admonitions Of an over
lord" and is altogether too patronizing
in tone and sentiment. While they are
gratiied to have repeated the old assur-
ances that we have no designs upon their
territory and that we do not intend to
use the Monroe doctrine in any shape or
way as an excuse for ACKNOWLEDGEMENT on
our part at the expense of the republics
of the south" and that "all this country
desires is that the other republics on this
continent shall be happy and prosperous"
they do not like the aggressive and blunt
tones in which the assurances are con-
veyed. As one of the ministers from
South American country described it:
The President says if we behave our
selves he will like us; but II we are
naughty he Will punish us. l have never
vet seen the documents which committed
the family of American nations to his
charge. He takes the ground that the
Monroe doctrine makes him the guardian
of the entire western hemisphere, and If
we naughty to each other or to any
other government, or II we do not pay
our bills, he will get out the big stick"
That is about the construction, they ex-
plain. that all of the Central and South
American people will place the mes
sage. The key to 1t lies in the words
I'VE must try and convince all the other
nations OF this continent once and for all
that no just and orderly government has
anything TO fear from u.s." and they do
not like that way of putting 1t. Nor do
they appreciate the fraternal interest
which suggested the paragraph OF the
message in which President Roosevelt Of
fers to have the United States become
collection agency when our American
y,nic vtNbs rAfIa ~ q
their European creditors. He makes 1t
clear that the Monroe doctrine was never
intended to protect any nation from the
consequences of Its own miSdeeds, but
that II IS far better that the fleets of the
United States should take possession of
their custom houses and act as receiver
in the interests of their creditors than to
permit European powers to enforce the
payment of obligations; for fear tempo
r6ry occupation of the custom houses OF
an American republic might result In per-
manent occupation OF American territory
In other words, the diplomatic representa-
tives OF the Latin-American countries take
the ground that their governments would
very much prefer to handle their own
financial and political affairs, and do not
care for any intervention on the part OF
the United States. That IS the principle
they advance, but they admit that "circum-
stances may alter cases" At the same
time. they do not see why the President
should deem 1t necessary to discuss these
questions In his message to Congress. They
regard the introduction of the subject of
their financial. delinquencies as gratuitous
and impertinent; and one of them laughing
~ quoted an old Spanish proverb, that ut
is very bad manners TO talk about ropes
In the house of a who has been
hanged
Secretary Roots Southern Trip.
1t has been decided to hold another Pan
American conference 1t will meet at Rio
de Janeiro on the 9th of July next, and
Secretary Root has promised to be a del
lie civ
great satsfa ction to everybody. especially
to the Brazilian ambassador Mr.. Nabuco,
who has already begun to make the ar
rangements. Mr.. Root will also visit Mon
tevideo and BuenOs Aires, and he may be
persuaded TO cross the continent to Chile
and return home via the west coast. stop
ping at Santiago. Lima and Panama. 1t
would not be practicable for him 10 go 10
Quito, the capital OF Ecuador. because the
journey up and down would require at least
two weeks on horseback. The railroad
only runs a short distance above Guayaquil
and the wagon road only short distance
out from Quito. 1t is necessary to cross
the mountains on muleback and camp out
over night, because the inns are lntoler-
able Mr.. Root would enjoy the experience
immensely, because he Is fond OF outdoor
life and Is at home in the saddle. He en-
joys camping fully much as President
Roosevelt. but he could scarcely give the
time necessary to the journey. 1t could
not be done in less than three weeks.
He might go up to La Paz, the capital of
Bolivia, in the heart Of the Andes" for
that is a comparatively easy journey. He
would leave his steamer at AntOfogasta, take
a narroW-gauge railroad to Oruro, and
thence cross by carriage 10 La PaZ He
could return via Lake Titicaca and the
railroad to Molendo and rejoin his steam
or there There is no more delightful Voy-
age In the world than along the west coast
of South America. 1t is always June. It
never rains or blows, the sea is always
smooth, and there are two fleets of SPLEEN
did steamers, built for that climate. One
of them belongs to British company that
was organized by William Wheelright,
American, and the other TO a Chilean cor
porauon.
Difficulties of the Trip.
1t will be more awkward for the Secretary
OF State to get to the conference. because
We have practically no steamship connec-
lions with Brazil or the Argentine Republic.
except by way of Europe. There are steam
ers running both ways. carrying hides, wool
and coffee TO Baltimore and New York, but
only one or two OF them comfortable
for passengers, and the sailings are so far
apart that the conference might finish It's
business and adjourn before the Secretary
could get there. The most comfortable and
convenient way is TO go Via Southampton,
Liverpool or Bremen. There are two Eng
fish lines with fine steamers, just as good
and Just as comfortable as you can get
crossing the Atlantic. The Germans,
French and Italians also have excellent
services. But the journey from New York
20 Brazil via England or Europe would
tGQulES ut ledSl d Hlollln 10 lLOSe WHO
love the sea II is delightful voyage. and
81 would add year to Mr.. Roots life TO
90 that way, but he has to consider the
flight of time, and his duties In the depart
Inent will not permit him to be absent
more than three months. He could not
make the journey in less time than that,
considering the interests involved.
1t may be arranged TO send him down
an army transport a man-of-war.
which might make the Journey In sixteen or
eighteen days. The distance from New
York to Rio Janeiro is 6,72O miles, and the
ordinary steamers make Ii In twenty-five
days. The distance to Buenos Aires is a
little over S,00o miles and the ordinary
steamers make ii In a little less than TWEEN
ty-five days. A steamer that make
rs knots an hour could make the journey
much qulcker-in about sixteen days-but
we have no such steamers available The
Secretary must calculate on at least two
months for the voyage, there and back
whichever way he may decide TO go.
Effect of the Trip.
The effect OF a visit OF the American Sec
till a., Noe