The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-12-04

with him a message Of peace and friend
ship and Of strong desire for good un-
Outstanding and mutual helpTulness, anu
he was everywhere received in the spirit
OF his message. The members OF govern
ment. the press. the learned professions,
Of the people united everywhere in en-
phatic response 10 his friendly express
sions and IN doing honor TO the country
and cause which he represented
In many parts OF South America there
has been much MISUNDERSTANDING OF the
attitude and purposes of the United States
toward the other American republics
An idea had become prevalent that our
assertion of the Monroe Doctrine implied,
or carried with 1t. assumption OF SUI
periority, and of a right 10 exercise some
kind of rrotectOrate over the countries
10 whose territory that doctrine applies
Nothing could be farther from the truth
serious barrier TO good UNDERSTANDINGS, TO
friendly intercourse, to the Introduction
american trade. Ihe impression was 50
widespread that apparently 1t could not
be reached by any ordinary means,
1t was part of Secretary Roots mission
to dispe1 this unfounded impression, and
there is Just cause to believe that he has
conference at Rio on the 31st of July
an address of such note that send It in,
together with this message-he said;
We 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
uons entitled to as much respect as those
of the greatest empire and we deem
the observance of that respect the chief
guaranty of the weak against the oppres-
sion OF tile strong We neither claim nor
desire any rights or privileges or powers
that we do not freely concede to every
American republic. We wish to increase
our prosperity, to extend our trade to
but our conception of the true way to
accomplish this is not to pull down others
friends TO a common prosperity and
common growth, that we may all become
few months for the first time the recog-
nized pOsSessors of every. foot of soil
upon the american continents can be and
nope VIII be represented with the ac-
knowledged rights of equal: sovereign
states in the great world congress at The
Hague This will be the worlds formal
and final acceptance of the deelara ton
that no part of the American continents
is to be deemed subject to colonial ton.
Let US pledge ourselves to aid each other
in the full performance of the duty to
humanity which that accented decia ra ton
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
opinion, whose power shall influence in
ternational conduct and prevent interna-
tional wrong and narrow the causes of
war, and forever preserve our free lands
from the burden of such ornaments as
are massed behind the frontiers Of Eur
ope.. and bring us ever nearer to the per-
lection of ordered liberty. So shall come
security and prosperity. production and
trade trade, wealth, learning the arts, aand
These words appear to have been re-
ceived with acclaim in every part of
South America They have my hearty APP
prevail, as / am sure they will have
conviction that they correctly represent
the sentiments of the whole American
people. I can not better characterize the
t-4.o 10 af fbn ~r,ff Cd ka4o to- 70
assertion of the Monroe Doctrine than
in the words of the distinguished former
Doctor Drago. in his speech welcoming
Mr.. Root a Buenos Ayres. He spoke Of
States (Which without accentuating su-
periority or seeking preponderance, con-
this part of the world and the control of
their destinies by the great powers of
It is gratifying TO know. that in the
great city of Bucnos Ayres, upon thu
arches which spanned the streets. en-
twlned with Argentine and American
flags for the reception of our representa-
tive, there were emblazoned not only the
names of Washington and Jefferson and
Marshall. but also in appreciative rec
OSnitfOn Of their services to the cause of
South American Independence the names
of James Monroe. John Quincy Adams.
Henry Clay and Richard Rush. We take
especial pleasure in the graceful cour-
has given to the beautiful and stately
building first used for the meeting of the
roe" Our grateful Acknowledgements are
due to the governments and the people
tary of state for the courtesy. the friend
ship, and the honor shown to our coun-
try in their generous hospitality to him.
Collection of Debts.
In my message to you on the 5th of
December, 1865. / called YOUR attention to
the embarrassment that might be caused
to this government by the assertion Of
foreign nations of the right to collect by
force of arms contract debts due by
American republics to citizens of the col
lecting nation. and to the danger that
might result in the occupation of terri
tory tending to become permanent.
Our own government has always re-
fused to enforce such contractual obliga-
that all foreign governments would take
the same view
This subject was one of the topics of
consideration at the conference at Rio
and resolution was adopted by that
conference recommending to the respec-
tive governments represented ITO; CON
slider the advisability of asking the seq
Ond peace conference at Ehe Hague TO
examine the question of the com ulsory
collection of public debts, and in general,
means tending to diminish among nations
conflicts of purely peeuniary origin
representatives of the United States in
accordance with the following instruc-
tions:
1T has long been the established pol
icy of the United States not to its
armed forces for the collection of ordi-
nary debts due to its citizens by other
governments. We have not considered
the use of force for such a purpose con-
sistent with that respect for the indie
pendent sovereignty OF other members Of
the family Of nations, 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 rs injur-
ious in its general effect upon the rela-
lions of nations and upon the welfare of
weak and disOrdered states. whose deveI-
opment ought to be encouraged in the
interests of civilization; that it offers fire.
quent temptation to bullying and oppres-
sion and to unnecessary and unjustifable
warfare We regret that other powers.
whose opinions and sense of justice we
esteem hiRhlN have q times q ken a dif=