Tonopah bonanza. [volume] (Butler City [i.e. Butler], Nev.) 1901-1909, 1906-12-08

speech welcoming MI. ROOT at Bue-
nos Ayres. He spoke Of
"The traditional policy of the
United States (Which without ac-
centuating superiority or seeking
preponderance, condemned the OPP
preston of the nations of this part
of the world and the control of their
d~estinies by the great powers of Eu-
rope"
1t is gratifying to know that in the
great city of Buenos Ayres, upon the
aches which spanned the streets, n
twined with Argentine and American
flags for the reception of our repre-
sentative, there were emblazoned not
only the names of Washington and
Jefferson and Marshall, but also, in
appreciative recognition of their ser
vices 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
courtesy of the government of Bra
I'll, which has given to the ebautiful
and stately building first used for
the meeting of the conference the
name of "Palacio Monroe" Our
grateful acknowledgements are due
to the governments and the people
of all the countries visited by the
secretary of state for the courtesy,
the friendship, and the honor shown
to our country in their generous hos
pitality to him.
In my message to you on the 9Th
of December, 1905, | called your at
tention to the embarrassment that
might be caused to this government
by the assertion by foreign nations
Of the right 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 compulsory collection
might result in the occupation of ter
ritory tending to become permanent.
| then said:
"Our own government has always
refuse dto enforce such %contractual
obligations on behalf of its citizens
by an appeal to arms. 1t is much to
be wished that all foreign govern
ments 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
respective governments represented
ITO consider the a~dvisability of ask
ing the second peace conference at
The Hague to examine the question
Of the compulsory collection of pub
lie debts, and in general, means
tending to diminish among natioas
conflicts of purely pecuniary origin. ="
This resolution was supported by
the representatives Of the United
States in accordance with the follow
ing Instructions:
1T has long been the established
policy of the United States not to
use its armed forces for the collec-
tion of ordinary contract debts due
to its citizens 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 protection Of weak
nations against the oppression of the
strong. 1t seems to us that the prac-
tice is injurious in its general effect
upon the relations Of nations and
upon the welfare of weak and disor-
dered states, whose development
ought to be encouraged in the inter-
ests of civilization; that is offers fFo-
quent temptation to bullying and op
preston and to unnecessary and UNI
justifable warfare. We regret that
other powers. whose opinions and
sense of Justice we esteem highly.
have at times taken a different view
and have permitted themselves,
though we believe with reluctance,
to collect such debts by force. 1t is
doubtless true that the nonpayment
of such debts may be accompanied
by such circumstances of fraud and
wrongdoing or violation of treaties
as to justify the use of force. This
government would be glad to see an
international consideration of the
subject which shall discriminate be.
tween such cases and the simple non
performance of a contract with a
private person, and a resolution in
avn VI lGlldlltk ulOi UtdtG1u
means in cases of the latter class.
1T is not felt, however, that the
conference at Rio should undertake
to make such a discrimination or to
resolve upon such a rule. Most OF
the American countries are still deb.
tor nations, while the countries OF
Europe are the creditors. If the Rio
conference, therefore. were to take
such action ii would have the APP
p%earance of a meeting of debtors re
solving how their creditors should
act, and this would not inspire re-
spect. The true course is indicated
by the terms of the program, which
proposes to request the second Hague
conference, where both creditors and
debtors will be assembled, to con
slider the subject"
Central America
Last June trouble which mad ex-
listed for some time between the re-
publics of Salvador, Guatemala, and
Honduras eliminated in war-a war
which threatened to be ruinous to
the countries involved and very de-
sructtive to the commercial interests
of Americans, M%exicans, and other
n