Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1906-12-06

five years and committed the fixing of
the time and place and the arrange
ments for the conference to the gov
erning board of the bureau of Alneri-
can republics, composed of the repre-
sentatives of all the American nations
in Washington That board discharg-
ed the duty imposed upon it with
marked fidelity and painstaking care,
and upon the courteous invitation Of
the United States of Brazil the con-
ference was held at Rio de Janeiro,
continuing from the 23d of July to
the 29th of August last. Many SUBJ
jects of common interest to all the
American nations were discussed by
the conference, and the conclusions
reached, embodied in series of reso-
lutions and proposed conventions, will
be- laid before you upon the coming
in of the final report of the American
delegates. They contain many matters
of Importance relating to the extern
sion of trade, the increase of communi-
cation, the smoothing away Of barriers
to free intercourse and the promotion
of a better knowledge and good under
standing between the different coun-
tries represented The meetings of the
conference were harmonious and the
conclusions We're reached with sub
stantial unanimity. 1t is interesting
to observe that in the successive con-
ferences which have been held the
representatives of the different Aner-
can nations have been learning to
work together effectively, for while
the first conference in Washington in
1889 and the second conference in
Mexico in 1901-02 occupied many
months, with much time wasted in an
unregulated and fruitless discussion,
the third conference at Rio exhibited
much of the facility in the practical
dispatch of business which character
ICES permanent deliberative bodies and
completed it's labors within the period
of six weeks originally allotted for its
sessions.
Quite apart from the specific value
of the conclusions reached by the con-
ference, the example of the representa-
tives of all the American nations en-
gaging in harmonious and kindly con-
sideration and discussion of subjects of
common interest is itself of great and
substantial value for the promotion of
reasonable and considerate treatment
of all international questions. The
thanks of this country are due to the
government of Brazil and to the people
of Rio de Janeiro for the generous
hospitality with which our delegates, in
common with others, were received, en-
tertained and facilitated in their work.
Roots Visit South.
Incidentally to the meeting Of the
conference the secretary of state visit
ed the city of Rio de Janeiro and was
cordially received by the conference,
of which he was made an honorary
president. The announcement of his in
tention to make this visit was follow
ed by most courteous and urgent invi-
tations from nearlysall the countries
of South America to visit them as the
guest of their governments. 1t was
deemed that by the acceptance of these
invitations we might appropriately ex.
press the real respect and friendship
in which we hold our sister republics
of the southern continent, and the sec.
rotary accordingly visited Brazil, Uru-
quay, Argentina, Chile, Peru, Panama
and Colombia. He refrained from
visiting Paraguay, Bolivia and Ecua.
dor only because the distance of their
capitals from the seaboard made it i'm.
practicable with the time at his dis.
posal. He carried with him a message
of peace and friendship and of strong
desire for good understanding and mu.
tual helpfulness, and he was every,
where received in the spirit of his
message. The members of the govern.
ment, the press, the learned professions
the men of business and the great
masses of the people united every.
where in emphatic response to his
friendly expressions and in doing hon.
or to the country and cause which he
| represented.
In many parts of South America
there has been much misunderstood
ing Of the attitude and purposes of the
United States toward the other Ameri
can republics. An idea had become
prevalent that our assertion of the
Monroe doctrine implied or carried
with it an assumption of superiority
and of a right to exercise some kind Of
protectorate over the countries tt
whose territory that doctrine applies
Nothing could be further from the
truth. Yet that impression continued
to be a serious barrier to good under
standing, to friendly intercourse, tt
the introduction Of American capita
and the extension of American trade
The impression was so widespread
that apparently it could not be reached
by any ordinary means.
1t was part of Secretary Roots mis-
sion to dispel this unfounded impress
sion, and there is just cause to believe
that he has succeeded. In an address!
to the third conference at Rio on tn,
31st of July-an address of such not,
that | send it in, together with thi
message-he said:
1--WE wish for no victories but thos,
| of Dpaca for No tarritorv oyoant or,