The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1906-12-04

| sion was so widespread that apparently
II could not be reached by any ordinary
| means.
| u was part OF Secretary Roots mission
| to dspcl this unfounded impression, and
| there Is grst cause 10 believe thGt ho f.as
succeeded. In an address to the third
| conference at Rio on the 3lst or july
| an address OF such note that ] send II in'
together with this message-he said:
| I'VE wish for no victories but those OF
| peace; for no territory except our own;
| for no sovereignty except the sovereignty
| over ourselves. We deem the independ-
| ence and equal rights Of the smallest and
| weakest member Of the family OF nations
| entitled TO as much respect as those OF
| the greatest. empire, and we deem the OBJ
| servance Of that respect the chief guar
anty of the weak against the oppression
\ or the strong. We neither claim nor de-
sire any rights or privileges or powers
, that we do not freely concede TO every
American republic. We wish TO increase
grow I'm wealth. I'm wisdom, and I'm spirit,
| but our conception OF the true way 10
| accomplish this is not 10 pull down others
and proit by their ruin but 70 help all
| friends TO a common prosperity ana
common growth, that we may all become
J greater and stronger together. Within a
| few months for the first time the recog-
nlZed pOssessors OF every foot OF SOIL
upon the American continents can be and
| j hope Will be represented with the ac-
| knowledged rights of equal sovereign
| states In the great world congress ut The
| Hague. This will be the worlds formal
| and final acceptance OF the declaration
| that no part or the American continents
| Is 10 be deemed subject To colonization.
| Let us pledge ourselves TO aid each other
| In the full performance OF the duty To
| humanity which the accepted declara-
| tion implies, so that I'm time the
weakest and most unfortunate OF
| our republics may come to march with
/ equal step by the side OF the stronger
| and more fortunate. Let us help each
| other to show that for all the races
! OF men the liberty for which we have
fought and labored is the twin sister
| OF Justice and peace. Let us unite In
| creating and maintaining and making
| effective an all-American public opin-
| ion, whose power shall influence inter-
| national conduct and prevent interna-
| tional wrong, and narrow the causes
| OF war, and forever preserve our free
| lands from the burden of such arma-
ments as are massed behind the from
| tiers OF Europe, and bring us ever
nearer to the perfection of ordered
! liberty. So shall come security and
prosperity. production and trade,
wealth. learning. the arts, and happi-
ness for us ALL
These words appear to have been re-
ceived with acclaim In every part or
| South America. They have my hearty
! approval. as / am sure they Will have
yours, and / cannot be wrong in the
| conviction that they correctly represent
| the sentiments OF the whole American
| people. I cannot better characterize
! the true attitude of the United states
| I'm its assertion OF the Monroe doctrine
! than in the words Of the distinguished
| former minister OF foreign affairs OF
| Argentina. Doctor Drago. in his speech
welcoming Mr. Root at Buenos Ayres.
| He spoke Of
THE traditional policy of the United
| States (which) without accentuating
! superiority or seeking preponderance,
| condemned the oppression OF the ma
| tions of this part of the world and the
! control OF their destinies by the great
| powers of Europe
| II is gratifying to know that in the
great city OF Buenos Ayres, upon the
| arches which spanned the streets, en-
! twined with Argentine and American
| flags for the reception of our repre-
| sentative. there were emblazoned not
: only the names OF Washington and JEFF
| ferson and Marshall. but also, In appre-
! ciative recognition of their services 10
4 the cause OF South American independ-
| ence, the names of James Monroe, John
! Quincy Adams, Henry Clay and Rich
! ard Rush. We take especial pleasure in
! the graceful courtesy OF the govern
ment OF Brazil. which has given to the
! beautiful and stately building first
used for the meeting OF the conference
| the name of "Palacio Monroe" Our
| grateful acknowledgements are due 10
| the government and the people Of all
| the countries visited by the secretary
/ Of state for the courtesy. the friend
| ship and the honor shown to our coun-
| try in their generous hospitality to
| him.
In my message to you on the 5th OF
| December, 1905, I called your atten-
| tion to the embarrassment that might
| be caused TO this government by the as
1 ion hu
! 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 | then said:
| "Our own government has always re-
| fused to enforce such contractuai OBJ
| legations on behalf OF SITS citizens 10y
an appeal 10 arms. II is much to he
| wisht that all foreign governments
would take the same view"
This subject was one OF the topics OF
| consideration at the conference at Rio
| and a resolution was adopted by that
! conference recommending to the re-
| spective governments represented Ito
! consider the advisability of asking the
| second peace conference at The Hague
! TO examine the question Of the COM
! pulsory collection of public debts, and
! III genera. means tenulnS 10 ullilHiSl
among nations conflicts OF purely pc
/ cuniary origin"
! The resolution was supported by the
representatives OF the United states in
accordance with tho following instruc-
| tions:
1T has long been the established
| policy Of the United states not l, use
| armed forces for the collection ot ordi-
| nary contract debts due to it's citi.~ns
| by other governments. We have not
! considered the use of force for such
! a purpose consistent with the respect
! for the independent sovereignty OF
! other members of the family OF nations.
which is the most important principle
! Of international law and the chief pro-
| lection OF weak nations against tho
] oppression Of the strong. II seems 10
! us tSat the practise Is injurious In it's
general effect upon the relations OF ma
! tions and upon the welfare of weak and
| disordered states. whose development
| ought TO be encouraged I'm the inter
/ ests Of civilization; that IL offers fire.
| queut temptation TO bullying and op-
! preston and To- unnecessary and un-
/ justifiable warfare. We regret that