Daily Arizona silver belt., 1907-12-04
Mexico and Central America

On the courteous invitation of the President of Mexico, the Secretary of State visited that country in September and October and was received every where with the greatest kindness and hospitality.
 He carried from the Government of the United States to our southern neigh Dor message of respect and good will and of desire for better acquaintance and increasing friendship. The response from the Government and the people of Mexico was hearty and sincere. No pains were spared to manifest the most friendly attitude and feeling toward the United States.
 In view of the close neighborhood of the two countries the relations which exist between Mexico and the United States are just cause for qualification. We have a common boundary of over l 300 miles from the Gulf of Mexico to the Pacific. Much of it is marked only by the shifting waters of the Rio Grande. Many thousands of Mexicans are residing upon our side of the line and it is estimated that over 10000 Americans are resident in Mexican ter ritory and that American investments in Mexico amount to over seven hundred million dollars. The extraordinary i'm dustrial and commercial prosperity of Mexico has been greatly promoted by American enterprise, and Americans are sharing largely in its results. The for eign trade of the republic already ex- ceeds $240,000,000 per annum, and of this two-thirds both of exports and i'm ports are exchanged with the United States. Under these circumstances nu- merous questions necessarily arise be- tween the two countries. These ques tions are always approached and dis posed of in spirit of mutual courtesy and fair dealing. Americans carrying on business in Mexico testify uniformly to the kindness and consideration with which they are treated and their sense of security of their property and enter and enterprises under the wise admin istration of the great statesman who has so long held the office of Chief Mag istrate of that Republic.
 The two Governments have been unit ing their efforts for a considerable time past to aid Central America in attain ing the degree of peace and order which have made possible the prosperity of the northern parts of the Continent. After the peace between Guatemala, Honduras and Salvador. celebrated un- der the circumstances described in my last message, a new war broke out be- tween the Republics of Nicaragua, Hon duras and Salvador. The effort to com pose this new difficulty has resulted in the acceptance of the joint suggestions of the Presidents of the United States and of Mexico for a general peace con ference between all the countries of Central America. On the l7th day of September last a protocol was signed between the representatives of the five Central American countries accredited to this Government agreeing upon a conference to be held in the City of Washington Gin order to devise the means of preserving the good relations among said Republics and bringing about permanent peace in those coun- triesD The protocol includes the ex- pression of wish that the Presidents of the United States and Mexico should appoint 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.
 THEODORE ROOSEVELT. The White House.
 December 8, 1907.