The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-12-04

Much of 1t is marked only by the shifting waters of the Rio Grande. Many thou sands of Mexicans are residing upon our side of the line and 1t is estimated that over 40000 Americans are resident in Mex ican territory and that American invest ments in Mexico amount to over seven hundred million dollars. The extraordi- nary industrial and commercial prosperity of Mexico has been greatly promoted by American enterprise, and Americans are sharing largely in it's results. The for eign trade of the republic already eX- ceeds $240, GOO GOO per annum, and of this two-thirds both of exports and imports are exchanged with the United States. Under these circumstances numerous questions necessarily arise between the two countries. These questions are al- ways approached and disposed of in spirit of mutual courtesy and fair deai- ing. Americans carrying on business Ill Mexico testify uniformly to the Kindness and consideration with which they are treated and their sense of the security of their property and enterprises under the wise administration of the great states man who has so long held the office of chief magistrate of that republic.
 The two governments have been uniting their efforts for a considerable time past to aid Central America in attaining the degree of peace and order which have
  ern parts of the continent. After the peace between Guatemala, Honduras and Salvador, celebrated under the cfrcun- stances described in my last message, new war broke out between the republics of Nicaragua, Honduras and Salvador. The effort to compose this new difficulty has resulted in the acceptance of the joint suggestion of the presidents Of Mexico and of the United States for general peaca conference between all the cOun- tries of Central America.
 On the 17th day of September last protocol was signed between the repre- sentatives of the five Central American countries accredited to this government agreeing upon a conference to be held Tn the city of Washington 'in order to de- wise the means of preserving the good relations among said republics and bring ing about permanent peace in those coun- tries" The protocol includes the ex- pression of a wish that the Presidents of the United States and Mexico should ap- point representatives to lend their good and impartial offices in a purely friendly way toward the realization of the objects of the conference" The conference is now in session and will have our best wishes and. where it is practicable, our friendly assistance.
 International Bureau of American
 Republics.
 One of the results of the Pan American conference at Rio Janeiro in the summer of 1906 has been a great increase in the activity and usefulness of the Internation- al Bureau of American Republics. That institution, which includes all the Ameri- can republics in its membership and brings all their representatives together. is doing really valuable work in inform ing the people of the United States about the other republics and in making the United States known to them. It's action is now limited by appropriations deter mined when it was doing a work on much smaller scale and rendering much less valuable service. I recommend that the contribution of this government to the expenses of the bureau be made conn mensurate with its increased work.
 THEODORE ROOSEVELT.
 The White House. December 3. 1907.