The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1906-12-05

ZenS by other governments. We nave
, not considered the use of force for such
a purpose consistent with that respect
for the Independent sovereignty of 9TH
err members of the family of nations,
which is the most important principle
of international law and the chief pro-
lection of weak nations against the OPP
preston of the strong. 1t seems to US
that the practice is injurious in its
general effect upon the relations of ma
tons and upon the welfare OF weak
and disordered states, whose develop
ment ought to be encouraged in the in
| terests of civilization; that it offers
| frequent temptation to bullying and OPP
preston and to unnecessary and I'M
justifiable 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, though we be-
! lieve with reluctance, to collect such
debts by force. 1t is doubtless true
! that the non-payment of public debts
may be accompanied by such circum-
stances of fraud and Wrongdoing or vi
olation of treaties as to justify the use
of force. This government would be
glad to see an international considera-
ton of the subject which shall dis
criminate between such cases and the
simple performance of contract
with private person, and resolution
in favor of reliance upon peaceful
means in cases Of the latter class.
1T is not felt, however, that the con-
| ference at Rio should undertake to
make such a discrimination or to re-
solve upon such rule. Most of the
American countries are still debtor ma
tions, while the countries Of Europe
are the creditors If the Rio confer
! ence therefore, were to take such ac-
ton ii would have the appearance of
a meeting of debtors resolving how
their creditors should act, and this
would not inspire respect. The true
course is indicated by the terms of the
programme, which proposes to request
the second Hague conference, where
both creditors and debtors will be as
sembled to consider the subject"
Central America.
Last June trouble which had existed
for some time between the republics
OF Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras
eliminated in war-a war which
threatened to be ruinous to the coun-
tries involved and very destructive to
the commercial interests Of Americans
Mexicans and other foreigners who are
/ taking an important part in the devel-
opment of these countries. The thor
oughly good understanding which ex-
i lists between the United States and
Mexico enabled this government and
J that of Mexico to unite in effective me-
/ diation between the warning republics,
which mediation resulted, not without
! long continued and patient effort in
bringing about meeting Of the repre-
sentatives of the hostile powers on
I board United States warship as neu-
trail territory, and peace was there con-
! GUIDED, a peace which resulted in the
I'saving Of thousands Of lives and in the
prevention of an inealculable amount
! of misery and the destruction of prop
erty and Of the means Of livelihood.
The Rio conference passed the follow
ling resolution in reference to this ac-
! ton:
THAT the third international Amer
lean conference shall address to the
presidents Of the United States of
America and Of the United States Of
Mexico note in which the conference
| which is being held at Rio expresses its
satisfaction at the happy results of
their mediation for the celebration Of
! peace between the republics of Guate-
mala, Honduras and Salvador"
This affords an excellent example of
one way in which the influence of the
United States can properly be exercised
for the benefit of the peoples of the
| Western hemisphere; that is, by action
taken in concert with other American
republics and therefore free from those
suspicious and prejudices which might
attach if the action were taken by one
alone. In this way it is possible to ex-
| ercisc a powerful influence toward the
substitution of considerate action in
the spirit Of justice for the insurrec-
tlonary or international violence which
has hitherto been so great a hindrance
to the development of many of our
neighbors Repeated examples of unit
ed action by several or many American
republics in favor of peace, by urging
cool and reasonable. instead of excited
and belligerent, treatment of interna-
tional controversies, vannot fail to pro-
mote the growth Of a general public
opinion among the American nations
! which will elevate the standards of in
ternational action, strengthen the sense
of international duty among govern
ments, and tell in favor Of the peace of
mankind.
I have just returned from a trip t.
Panama and shall report to you a
length later or the whole subject of hi
! Panama Canal.
The Algeciras Convention, which wal
signed by the United States as well al
bv most of the powers of Europe, sup
| ersedes the previous convention of 1880
| which was also signed both by thu
| United States and majority of tn,
European powers. This treaty confer
upon US equal commercial rights witt
all European countries and does no
entail single obligation of any kint
upon us, and I earnestly hope it ma!
be speedily ratified. To refuse to rat
ify it would merely mean that we for
feited our commercial rights in Moroc
co and would not achieve another OBJ
ject Of any kind. In the advent of sucl
refusal we would be left for the frs
time in a hundred and twenty years