Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1906-12-04

v "
ments are due to the governments and
the people OF all the countries visited
by the secretary of state for the cour-
tesy, the friendship and the honor
shown to our country in their generous
hospitality to him.
In my message TO you on the 9th Of
December, 1905, called your attention
to the embarrassment that might be
caused to this government by the as
sertion by foreign nations of the right
to collect by force of arms contract
debts due by American republics to
citizens of the collecting nation and
to the danger that the process of COM
pulsory collection might result in the
occupation of territory tending TO be-
come permanent. l then said:
"Our own government has always re-
fuse:f to enforce such contractual OBJ
legations on behalf of its citizens by
an appeal to arms. 1t is much to he
wished that all foreign governments
would take the same view"
South American Debts.
This subject was one of the topics Of
consideration at the conference at Rio,
and a resolution was adopted by that
spective governments represented Ito
consider the ACCESSIBILITY of asking the
second peace conference at The Hague
to examine the question of the compul-
sorry collection of public debts and in
general means tending to diminish
among nations conflicts of purely pc
cuniary origin"
This resolution was supported by the
accordance with the following instruc-
tons:
1T has long been the established pol
icy of the United States not to use its
armed forces for the collection of or
binary contract debts due to its citi-
Zens by other governments. We have
not considered the use of force for
such purpose consistent with that re-
spect for the independent sovereignty
of other members of the family of ma
lions which is the most important
principle of international law and the
chief protection of weak nations against
the oppression of the strong. 1t seems
TO us that the practice is injurious in
its general effect upon the relations of |
nations and upon the welfare of weak |
and disordered states, whose develop |
ment ought TO be encouraged in the |
interests of civilizations; that it offers |
frequent temptation to bullying and |
oppression 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 4 different view and
have permitted themselves. though we
believe with reluctance. to collect such
debts by force. 1t is doubtless true
that the nonpayment of public debts
may be accompanied by such circum-
stances of fraud and wrongdoing or
violation of treaties as to justify the
use of force This government would
be glad TO see an international consid-
GRAFTON of the subject which shall dis
criminate between such cases and the
simple nonperfOrmance of n contract
with q private person and Il 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 Il discrimination or to re
solve upon such q rule Most of the
American countries are still debtor ma
tons. while the countries of Europe are
the creditors. If the Rio conference,
therefore. were to take such action ii
would have the appearance of Il meet
ing of debtors resolving how their cred
itors should act, and this would not
inspire respect. The true course is in
dicated by the terms of the programme
which proposes to request the second
Hague conference, where both cred
itOrs and debtors will be assembled, to
consider the subject.
Central America.
Last June trouble which had existed
for some time between the republics of
Guatemala and Honduras
in war-a war which threat
ened to be ruinOus to the countries in
volved and very destructive to the COM
mercial interests OF Americans, Next
cans and other Foreigners who are TAX
ing an important part in the develop
ment of these countries The thorough
" good understanding which exists be- :
tween the United States and Mexico
enabled this government and that OF
Mexico to unite in effective mediation
between the warning republics, which
mediation resulted. not without long \
continued and patient effort, in bring
ng about 4 meeting of the representa- :
ives of the hostile Powers on board
United States warship as neutral ter
.itOry, and peace was there concluded
l peace which resulted in the saving of
thousands of lives and in the proven
ion of an incalculable amount of mis-
Try and the destruction of property and
II the means of livelihood. The Rio
conference passed the following resolu- =
ion in reference to this action:
THAT the third international Amer !,
can conference shall address to the :
Presidents of the United States of !;
America and of the United States of :,
,Iexico a note in which the conference :,
which Is being held at Rio expresses its q