The semi-weekly messenger., 1906-06-12
and South America have been solemn
lv warned against him.

and South America have been solemn
ly warned against him
To appreciate the significance of
these absurd publications you must un-
derstand that certain interests in Eu-
rope are very jealous or the influence
of the United States, not only in Latin
America, but that there are political
parties and political issues among the
people on the other continents just as
there are in the United States The
policy of the liberal party in each of
the other American republics is, gener-
ally speaking, to promote more intimate
political and commercial relations with
the United States. This policy is op-
posed by the newspapers and leaders
Of the conservative party, which resists
all progress and is controlled largely
by the old Spanish aristocracy who are
against free education, free religion,
a free press, and liberal ideas general
". The newspapers and the leaders
Of the conservative party do not see
anything good in the United States and
they object to every movement and
every proposition in their own coun-
tries that may in any way lead to more
intimate relations. For that reason
they see all kinds Of evils and disasters
behind the innocent excursion Of the
American secretary of state.
All of this is very amusing to Sec
retary Root, the president and to such
of our people as happen to see the
comments of the newspapers. In max
/ ing this journey Secretary Root has
no object or purpose except to make
! the personal acquaintance of the lead
! ing men in our sister republics, and to
! qualify himself for the future exercise
! of his responsibilities in relation to
| them. 1t would be to the advantage OF
| all concerned if the corresponding Of
| fcials of the republics of Central and
South America could make similar
| Journey. 1t would prevent possible
MISUNDERSTANDING it would vitalize
their relations: it would enable them
/ to see more clearly and act more wise
| ly. Secretary Root is setting a good
example to the official world generally
by getting out of his office and going
! there himself.
CONFERENCE OF THE LEADERS.
That is the most important feature
! of the conference.-the bringing to-
gether of the big men of the Amer1-
can republics for social intercourse
and the interchange Of ideas and expe-
| riences. The two previous confer
ences a Washington in SO and at the
City of Mexico in 1902 were extremely
valuable in that particular. They have
caused a much more friendly feeling
among the American republics than
ever existed before, and better un-
derstanding all around-of motives,
methods and purposes. If these con-
ferences could be held every year; if
the men who control the foreign poll
cies of all the American nations could
get together annually and discuss their
differences and explain their purposes,
there would be no international trou-
bles; and the meeting at Rio de jan
eiro will do great good, even if the del
egates do not pass single resolution.
THE PENDING PROPOSITIONS.
The principal propositions for con-
Isideration this time are as follows:
1. A resolution recommending that
the second peace conference at the
Hague be requested to consider the ex-
tent to which the use of force Is ad-
missab BILE for the collection of public
debts. We cannot settle that vital
question on this side of the Atlantic
because the creditor nations are all in
|. Europe. The debtor nations cannot
. very we'll determine how much pres
sure should be used upon themselves
to make them settle their own bills.
The creditor nation must naturally be
consulted, and it is absolutely useless
for the international American confer
ence or any other body that does not
include the European powers, to dis
cuss this subject. Hence it is consid-
ed wise to send it to The Hague. No
body expects to get definite or for
NAL declaration from The Hague, but
it seems desirable to bring the SUBJ
ject under the notice Of that tribunal
and start debate upon it. If The
Hague should decide that contracts
and financial obligations cannot be
enforced by navies and armies, it would
be a good thing, because it will make
it more difficult for the creditor ma
tons to borrow money and compel
them to improve their credit and their
financial standing. If The Hague de-
cides that the creditor nations have
the right to collect debts at the can
mons mouth, it will be a good thing
also for similar reasons.
2. The Monroe Doctrine will not be
discussed. It will be carefully avoid
ed. The United States does not want
its policy defined by other nations, and
the other nations do not care to have
an exact definition of its scope and
meaning thrust at them.
8. There will be renewal of the
adherence of the American repu bl1cs
, to the principle of arbitration for the
} settlement of disputes arising between
them, and the conference will doubt
| less pass a resolution expressing its
, hope that The Hague conference will
/ agree upon a general plan of arbitra-
ton that can be approved and put into
l operation by every country. 1t is not
probable that the arbitration treaties
which were concluded between ten OF
5 twelve Of the American nations at the
close of the first American conference
5 will be revived. The Cleveland admin
3 istration, which came into power
: shortly after the adjournment of that
5 body, suppressed them President
: Cleveland's intense dislike of Mr.
: Blaine and Secretary Graham's per
: sonal hatred of President Harrison
caused them to undo everything thai
f had been doine, and if the other Amer.
/ ican republics were not very generous
3 and forbearing they would never trus
= the United States again.
4. The recommendations of the Sec