The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1906-07-22

leves that force ought not to be used
to collect debts against nations Money
lenders dealing with all nations ought
to make 1t mater of business and
loan only TO those countries which
maintain their credit. Nations should
protect their credit as do individuals.
Secretary Root does not believe in the
policy Of sending a man ofwar to
country to take possession of a port
and collect the revenues in order to
satisfy a claim.
He particularly condemns this method
OF procedure in view of the shady char
acter of many transactions of the kind
which have come under his notice. Not
long since the State Department was
asked to take steps to enforce the claim
of an American citizen who had loaned
one Of the South American governments
$4,000 and had Il contract to take
charge of certain revenues to satisfy
the debt. Finally there was Disagree
ment and the country refused to con-
tinue the contract
The American asked this Government
TO compel the weaker Government to
fulfill the contract, but Mr.. Root re-
fused to do SO or to recommend the
use of force In any such matter He
held that the man who invested his
capital should have looked to his se-
curity the same as he would have done
had he invested II. with a private indi- 4
vidual or corporation. He did. how
ever. say to the Government that IL II
did not want to carry out the contract
it should at least return the money.
This policy of Secretary Root against
the use of force in collecting debts will
no doubt be approved by the South
American states, but TO become effect
i've I: must be established as prin-
ciple by the creditor nations
The completion of the Pan-Ainerican
great consequence in the development
of better relations Of all the republics.
both north and south of the isthr.us
When we can go from Washington to
Buenos Ayres By rail very great ad-
vancement in bringing all the nations
of the continent together will have
been made. The building OF railways
in the Latin Americas is still in its in
fancy. Mexico has made more .'apid
strides than any 9th IF country, and the
result has been the development ur her
vast resources. Th~ interest in the
n-Anlerican Railway has tagged at
times, but Their. are men in the coun-
tries through wl.icn ii VIII pass who
are alive to Its Importance
From Mexico the road has been con-
structed to the Guatemaian line, and in
time it will be built south to the 18TH
mus. A long stretch of road has been
constructed northward from Argentina
and there are a few pieces in other
countries south of the isthmus. Much
OF the road yet to be constructed must
be built through the less progressive
countries of the South and Central
American States, but IT is hoped that by
the presentation of the report of what
has been accomplished and by pointing
out the advantages of a completed line 4,
the interest of those countries through |
which the road is yet to be built will |
be aroused so that they will give such |
erccura cement to the enterprise as Will |
make its completion possible.
STEAMSHIP CONNECTION.
There may be better steamship con-
nection between the United States and
South America before the road is COM
pleted, but, Judging the future by the
past, the railroad will be the best
means of communication. Another i'm
portant matter in connection with this
American railway is the fact that
it will reach regions that are remote
from water transportation, regions of
undeveloped wealth that equal the
dreams of the Spanish adventurers of
the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries.
We had a right, he asserts, on ac-
count of our proximity to Cuba, to in
sist that the island should be main
tanned in a healthy and sanitary con-
dition. Our interests in the Caribbean
Sea are now so great and with the com
pletion of the Panama canal, will be so
enlarged that 1t will be almost impera-
tive to have better health conditions
prevail which will reduce as far as
possible every cause for the spread OF
tropical diseases OF course it is rec
ognized that only by precept and ex-
ample can we deal with the southern
republics in this matter, but as they
see what an advantage 1T was to Cuba
and what great improvements have
been made in Panama he believes that
those countries which are far behind
in the matter of sanitation will be en-
couraged to abandon Anticipated meth
DDS and follow the advanced ideas of
modern development.
The programme which has been
agreed upon to be considered by the
conference presents a number of other
features which, should they receive IA
vorable recommendations, will, in the
opinion of Secretary Root, be fruitful
of not only a better understanding be-
tween this country and the South
American countries, but also will result
in better relations of all the countries
with each other. Among these are a
resolution affirming the adherence of
the American republics to the principle
of arbitration for the settlement of dis
putes arising between them. It is we'll
understood that arbitration can go no
further than the voluntary acts of each
government, but If the principle is
agreed to by all the American nations
all of them which take part in the con-
ference to be convened at The Hague
will assist in general agreement that
can be approved of and put in opera