The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-07-06
ROOTS MISSION IS
TO MAKE FRIENDS

Pan-American Trip Expected to
Bear Fruit in Fixing
Better Relations.
BY w. w. Jermane l& ~
| Washington, July 6.-Secretary Root
on July started on his South Amer
lean trip. Should one-quarter of what
the president and he look for develop
from the trip, the present year will
become historic landmark of great
significance so far as the relations Of,
the United States with South American
countries are concerned. Seventy years
ago the first pan-American conference
was held at the Isthmus Of Panama.
Twenty-Five years ago Blaine issued in
vitations for another conference, which
invitations were withdrawn by Freling
huysen, who succeeded him as secretary
of state. Sixteen years ago the next
conference actually met, at Washington,
under Blaine's direction and manage
lnent, while another one was held in
the City Of Mexico five years ago.
| None Of these conferences bore fruit.
Proposals were made there was much
discussion and the adoption Of numer-
Gus amiable resolutions, but there it
all ended. The difficulty is that no line
Of policy acceptable to this country and
the countries Of South America alike
has yet been developed. Chile, for in
stance, doesn It want compulsory arbi.
tration. None of the southern countries
wants drastic quarantine regulations. A
panAmerican tariff is at present i'm
possible, while even reciprocity has
failed to accomplish good results, even
when treaties have been ratified.
May Adopt Calvo Doctrine.
The Rio conference this month will, like
those preceding it, produce many express
sions Of cordial good will, but there will
probably be no decisive action, unless it
should come in an acceptance Of the
Calvo doctrine, which declares that
neither public nor private debts, nor
private claims as between nations, shall
be collected by force of arms. Such a
doctrine would never be accepted in
Europe, but it might, with this coun
tvs help, be accepted by all the South
American countries, in which event
European nations would find it more
difficult than heretofore to collect their
South American debts at the cannon s
mouth.
Before Secretary. Root returns, three
months hence, he will have visited sew
eral Of the larger South American
countries and met their leading states
men. The opportunity which he will thus
United States and convince the coun-
tries to the south Of US that we are their
friends, may perhaps bear fruit in
closer commercial and diplomatic rela-
tions, which is what President Roose-
welt wants. If either the president or
Secretary Root were asked to define in
exact terms what the trip will accom-
| p1ioh ,,orboro nathan ~ fbo,, onrlH rio
SO, altho both Of them regard the trip
as of the highest Importance to the pc.
litical and commercial welfare of all
| the peoples on this side the ocean.
No Monroe Alliance.
! When the trip was first discussed it
was rumored that Mr.. Root expected to
form an alliance of all western govern
ments to maintain the Monroe doctrine.
! It is denied, however, that he has any
such specific purpose in view. All that
has been authoritatively stated is that
the trip is to be friendly one, and
that Mr.. Root hopes as the result of it
/ to bring about q better understanding
with the countries to the south Of us
and impress them that their interests
are more allied with those Of the United
II States than with any European country
This is the old Blaine idea, and Mr.
Il Root, as Blaine s successor, has it in
Il mind to adopt that idea and see what
Il can be done with it. When Mr. Root
\ sion Of American markets to the south
II engaged his attention, and our diplo
II matte and consular officers in South
II and Central America were directed tt
Il do all they could to create larger
II feeling Of confidence in the good faith
: of the United States government anc
in the Integrity of American merchan
o,,I
to the southern countries to study com
mercial conditions and to suggest meth
dds by which the United States might
increase its trade in that part of The
world, thus shutting out Europe. TIL,
matter was frequently discussed be
tween the president and Mr.. Root, anc
came up at cabinet meetings.
To Seek Better Relations.
Finally Mr.. Root suggested that i
might not be bad plan for him to at
tend the pan-Ameican congress at Ri,
de Janeiro this summer. This sugges
ton the president approved, for tn
trip. will give the secretary an oppor
tunity to meet the prominent men from
all the South American countries, am
the mere exchange of friendly greet
ings, if nothing more is done, will per
haps 90 much to create more friendl7
relations with the United States thai
have hitherto existed. "
The fact that the secretary of stat
was to make this trip was soon sprea,
thru diplomatic channels to all Sout]
and Central American countries, witt
the result that special invitations wer
extended him to visit several of tn
larger countries. These invitations il
part were accepted, until at last quit
p an itinerary was mapped out.
That it will be one of the chief Dur
i, poses Of Mr.. Roots trip to cultivat
q closer relations between the republic
to the south of us and dispel miscon
ceptions as to our attitude toward then
g may be accepted as a fact. It is ais
= = fact that he will look more or les
% into the question Of the Monroe doc
- :, trine, explaining carefully the attitud
! of this country toward it.
- De results Of Mr.. Roots trip wi
Z; 10 be conveyed to the country in repor
=, 70 to the president, which will be laid bt
- - fore congress in December
)r s-..