Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1906-07-20
OBJECT OF R0OTSTOUR
Seeks to Allay South Americas
Fears of United States.
PLANS TO REMOVE OLD HATRED

Secretary of States Visit to Latin
Republics VIII Be a Trip to Eradi-
cate the Impressions OF n Lifetime.
Industrial Unity of Two Continents
VIII BE His Aim.
1t is difficult to overestimate the i'm
portance of Secretary Roots visit to
South America, says Washington
special dispatch to the New York
Times. 1t may mean the opening OF the
continent to development by the north
ern part of the hemisphere. 1t is under
taken with the object of removing the
hatred of us which at present closes
South America to the United States as
q place of investment.
The United States is detested in
South America, and Of late years this
hatred has been intensified by fear.
From the time of the South American
wars of independence the United
States has protected the southern con-
tinent from political aggression, but
commercially and socially all South
Americas relations have been with
Europe.
We are practically unknown in South
America We have no steamship con-
nection to speak of. Our trade does
not compare with that of Europe.
What citizens of the United States the
southern continent has had to judge
rs by have been largely of the adven-
turer type. Language, customs and
ideals have been different, and have
been barriers.
- Oh, Il hn
many years was increased by fear
when the Spanish war took
place, and the talk about imperial
ISM spread over the world. 1t was
doubtless much increased, too. by the
Panama affair and subsequent talk by
President Roosevelt and others, which
was misunderstood. This increased
hatred, mixed with fear. has frightened
the bonds between South America and
Europe. Nothing has been undOne
to give the South Americans as bad
an impression of us as possible. At
present the belief is widespread
through South America that the north
ern republic covets territory there, and
that at any time we may swoop down
upon them.
South America is vast and fertile
continent, as rich as possible and ten
anted by a people with little mechan-
ical genius. 1t is in every way a COM
plement to the United States. 1t is
practically undeveloped. What capital
goes there for Investment is European.
Secretary Blaine was twenty years
ahead of the time, in the opinion of
Secretary Root. At the time Blaine
conceived his idea of the uses of South
America to the United States this coun-
try was still a debtor nation, borrow
ing money to develop its own resources
and not able to develop those of other
nations. Now the United States has
ceased to be a debtor nation, and it's
capital is branching out in every direc
ton. From his place in the state de-
partment Mr.. Root has an opportunity
to see the tentacles of American cap
itsl reaching into every land. When
they reach into South America the diff
fculty is that they meet the competi-
ton of European capital and that the
general hatred, fear and detestation
of the United States put the United
States at a tremendous disadvantage.
The same idea which inspired Blaine |
has captivated Root, though now cir |
make The thing much more |
than in Blaine's time. Mr. |
Root has long entertained the idea of |
doing what he could at the first oppor- |
tunity to aid in the throwing open of |
the southern continent to American de- |
When the pan-American conference |
was held five years ago in Mexico the |
one which Mr.. Root is about to attend |
was provided for. When the time ap-
preached Mr.. Root conceived the idea |
Of attending it in furtherance of his |
plan. As soon as the announcement |
was made Brazil's neighbors, Uruguay
and Argentina, requested that he |
would take the chance to visit them
The proposition struck Mr.. Root as
one that ought to be accepted, narticu-
arly as the relations between Argen-
tina and Brazil are not cordial, and it
would not carry out his idea if he We're
70 seem to show more courtesy to one
Of the rivals than to the other He
accordingly accepted the invitation.
Then came other invitations, and it
struck the secretary that here was the
chance to carry out his purpose of do
ng what he could to clear way the
loud of misrepresentation that obscures
he intentions of the United States
rom her southern neighbors. He there
ore planned a trip which will take in
III the southern countries which border
IN either the Atlantic or the Pacific
Mr.. Roots aim throughout will be to
make the rulers of these lands under
stand how little they have comprehend
I'd the spirit of friendliness of the
United States toward them. He be-
ieves it will take personal contact to
10 so.
1t is to do this that Mr.. Root Is tax :
ng his journey. He will meet the pres
dents, the cabinets and the leading
Ii