The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1907-01-12


American continents can be and | hope
will be represented with the ackuowl-
edged rights of equal sovereign states
in the groht world congress at Tire
Hague. This will bee the worlds formal
and final acceptance of the declaration
that no part of the American continents
is to be deemed subject TO colonization
Let us pledge ourselves to aid each other
i'm the full performance of the duty to
humanity which that accepted dcClarl-
ton implies SO that in time the weakest
and most unfortunate of our republics
may come to march with equal step by
the side of the stronger and more for
tunate. Let us help each other to show
that for all the races of men the liberty
for which we have fought and laborcd
is the twin sister of justice and peace.
Let us unite in creating and maintain
ing and making effective an all-Amerlcan
public opinion, whose power slall in
fueuce international conduct and pre-
vent international wrong, and narrow
the causes of war, and forever preserve
our free lands from the burden of such
ornaments as are masscd behind the
frontiers of Europe, and bring us ever
nearer to the perfection Of ordered IL
bcrty. So shall come security and pros
perity. production and trade, wealth,
learning. the arts and happiness for us
ALL"
These words appear to have been re.
ceived with acclaim in every part of
South America. They have my hearty
approval, as l am sure they will hayc
yours, and l cannot be wrong in the
conviction that they correctly represent
the sentiments of the whole American
people. | cannot better characterize the
true attitude of the United States III
its assertion of the Monroe doctrine than
in the words of the distinguished former
Minister of Foreign Affairs of Argentina,
DIR. Drago in his speech welcoming Mr.
Root at Buenos Ayres. He spoke Of
Tire tradtinoal policy of the United
States (whichD without acccntuating SUI
periority or seeking preponderance, con
demned the oppression Of the nations OF
this part of the world and the control
of their destnies by the great powers of
Europe"
1t is gratifying to know that in the
great city of Buenos AyrCs, upon the
arches which spanned the streets, en-
twined with Argentine and American
flags for the reception of our represen-
tatives, there were emblazoned not only
the names of Washington and jefferson
and Marshall, but also, in appreciativc
recognition of their services 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 Brazil,
which has given to the beautiful and
stately building first used for the meet
ing of the conference the name of PA
lacio Monroe" Our grateful acknowl
edgments are due to the governments
and the people of all the countries visite
by the Secretary Of State for the court
esy, the friendship and the honor shown
to our country in their generous hospi
tally to him.
In my message to you on the 9th OF
December, 1908, l called your attention
to the embarrassment that might be
caused to this Government by the as
to collect by force of arms contract
debts due by American republics to clu'
zens of the collecting nation and to the
danger that the process of compulsory
collection might result in tire occupation
Of territory tending to become perma'
nent. l then said:
"Our own Government has always re.
cations on behalf Of its citizens by an
appeal to arms. 1t is much to be wish
ed that all foreign governments 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 ''to
consider the ACCESSIBILITY of asking the
second peace conference at The Hague
to examine the question of the compul'
, sorry collection of public debts, and in
general means tending to diminish among
, nations conflicts of purely pecuniary orr
gin"
This resolution was supported by tn
representatives Oh Ihe bHlltu olll'S IL
accordance with the following instruc
tions:
at has long been the established pc
Icy of the United States not to u.s.
- its armed forces to enforce the col
lection debts due to its citizens b.
other governments. We have not con
% sidered the use of force for such a pur
p pose consistent with that respect for tn
: Independent sovereignty of otlrer member
) of the family of nations, which is tn
most important principle of internationa
| law and the chief protection of weak ma
- tons against the oppression Of tn
strong 1t seems to MS that the praC
. tice is injurious in its general effec
r upon the relations of nations and upO
T. the welfare of weak and disOrdereC
o states, whose development ought to b
encouraged in tire interests of civilizC
, tom that it offers frequent tempta
h ton to bullying and oppression and t
unnecessary and unstable warfare. w
+ regret that other powers, whose opir
L