The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1906-12-07

temptation to bullying and oppression
and to unnecessary and un1ustlhaole
warfare. We regret that other powers,
| whose opinions and sense OF justice
| we esteem highly, have at times taken
a different view and have permitted
themselves, tho we believe with re-
l~uctance. to collect such debts by force.
! It is doubtless true that the non-pay-
ment of public debts may be accom-
| panied bv such circumstances OF fraud
and WrOngdOing or violation oi
| treaties as t justify the use OF 1oTce.
This government would be glad 10 see
an international consideration OF the
| subject which shall discriminate DE-
| tween such cases and the simple non
| performance of a contract Win d pr
| waite person.. and a resolution III ia'ol
| Of reliance upon peacefui means -
! cases of the latter class
I 'Our own government has always
fused to enforce such c~ontfactudl ~
1igations on behalf of its citizens DS
an rnncal to arms. 1t is much 10 De
wight that all foreign goVerhhieli'7
would take the same V lew.
This subject was one Of me topics
of cnnci3eration at the conference at
; Pic and n resolution was adopted oS
tbot conference recommending 10 lle
resDective governments 1epreS1il.eu
10 consider the a~dvisability OF ASKING
he Second Peace Conference at lhe
Hague to examine the question OF the
compulsory collection of publ'c dep.s'
and in general. means tending 10 al
minish among nations cohiiIcS VI
purely pccuniGry origin
This resolution was supported py the
representatives of h United states III
accordance with the following l'lSIruc-
tons:
noIicv OF the United States not TO use
its armed forces for the collectlol' VI
ordinary contract debts due to It's clIl-
zaus by other governments. we nave
NOT considered the use of force Ioi
such a purpose consistent with that re
sDect for the independent sovereignty
Of other members of h family Oh
nations, which is the most important
nrincipln of international law and the
chief protection of weak nations
AGAINST the oppression Of the strong.
It seems to us that the practise is in
furious in its general effect p the
relations of nations and upon the WEI
fare of weak and d~isordered states
whose development ought TO De eIcour
aged in the interest Of civilization;
that it offers frequent temptation to
h1Ilving and oppression and to unnec-
essarv and unjustifiable warfare. we
REGRET that other powers, whose opln-
ions and sense of justice We esteem
hjehly, have at times taken q different
view and have permitted themselves,
tho we believe with reluctance, to col
Iect such debts by force. 1t is doubt
less true tina the nOn-payment OF pub
lie debts may be accompanied by Sucn
circumstances of fraud and Wronsdo-
inc or violation Of treaties as to justify
the use of force. This government
would be glad to see an internatlona
/ consideration of the subject when
shall discriminate betWeen such cases
and the simple nonperf"rmance IN
favor Of reliance upon peaceful means
in cases OF the latter class.
TT is not felt, however, that the
conference at Rio should undertake
70 rake such discrimination or to re-
solve upon such a rule. Most OF the
American countries are still debtor
nations, while the countries of Europe
are the creditors. If the Rio confer
ence, therefore, were to take such ac-
ton it would have the appearance OF
a meeting of debtors resolving how
their creditors should act, and this
would not inspire respect. The tru*
course is indicated by the terms Of thu
program, which proposes to reques
l ) the Second Hague conference, Wher'
g Doth creditors and debtors will be as
sembled, to consider the subject
e CENTRAL AMERICA.
Last June trouble which had existed
= for some time between the republics o
Salvador, Guatemala, and
= eliminated in War-a war Wnlci
+ threatened to be ruinou to the coun
. tries involved and very destructive t
1 the commercial interests Of Americans
Il Mexicans. and other foreigners WIZ
= are taking an important part in tn
development Of these countries. Th'
S thoroly good understanding which eX
2 lists between the United states am
Mexico enabled this government am
tina Of Mexico to unite in effectlV
meditation betW cen the warning repub
: lies: which meditation, rsulted, no
q without l~ong-continued and patlen
e effort, in bringing about a meeting O
the representatives of the hostile pow
ers on board a United States Warshi
as neutral territory, and peace wa
there cOncluded; a which result
ed in the saving of thousands of live
{ and in tn" prevention of an inCalcula
q BILE amount of misery and the destruc
Il ton of property and of the means G
livelihood. The Rio conference pas
# the following resolution in reference
J. this action:
It "That the Third international Amer
g lean conference shall address to tn
. presidents of the United States
{ America and of the United States
/ Mexico a note il which the conferenc
which s being held at Rio expresses il
i. satisfaction at the happy ree"lt~ {
# their meditation for the celebration
II peace between the republioe o. Gne
@ temala, Honduras. and Salvador"
. This affords an excellent Example
g one wacT in which h influence of II
y Limited States tan properly be exercise
for the benefit of the peoples Of II
y western hemisphere: that IS, by acuc
De taken in concert with other America
re reDrb,ics and therefore free from tho
suspicious and prejudices which mig
! attach if the action were taken by Of
- alone. m this way it is possible
exercise q powerful. influence towa1
~ he substitution of ~considerate acti<
in the spirit OF justice for h lnsu
to reactionary or international violen
he which has hitherto been so great
ne hindrance to the development OF mai