Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-12-23
FAR REACHING
Results of Agreement of the
Peace Conference.
EIGHT TREATIES ADOPTED
Peace and Prosperity for Central
America.
ENCOURAGEMENT OF INDUSTRY
No More Money to Be Wasted in
Wars-It Will Be Expended for
Internal improvements.
EIGHT TREATIES ADOPTED
ENCOURAGEMENT OF INDUSTRY
BY WILLIAM e. CURTIS.

@hsSSAoA improvements.
BY WILLIAM E. CURTIS
written for The Star and the Chicago Record
Herald.
The results of the conference Of dele
gates from the Central American re-
publics. which has been in session at
Washington for the last four or five
weeks. are entirely practical, and. If
they stand. If the agreements reached
are carried out in good faith, that sec
ton Of Gods footstool. SO rich in re-
sources. so prolific of products of great
value, will become one OF the most
prosperous. wealthy and progressive of
the world. AS Secretary Root said Just
before he declared the conference adj
journed, every husbandman in the
fields, every laborer in the mines, every
lumberman in the forests and every
child In the schools will realize the
value and importance OF the action that
has been taken here
There Is no place where 50 much
wealth can be obtained with 90 little
LABOR as in Central America; there is
no place where nature has stored up
so much of agricultural. mineral and
terrestrial riches: there is no place so
convenient to the commerce of the
WV ~ VI OF Cdoy OI access from all
markets; and the products of those
countries are always in demand. They
peiong to the necessities of life, for the
world cannot get on without them. But
they nave been kept poor: their popu-
lation has been kept down; their de-
velopment has been delayed by useless
unneighborly strife. This has not been
due to the hostility of the people, be-
cause they have always had the friend
lest feelings for each other. So far
"a nCfn Hob
ners and aspirations go, they ale one
country, and whenever controversy
arises among them they settle 1t in an
amicable and reasonable way. This
ment Of a boundary controversy be-
tween Nicaragua and Honduras. They
referred 1t to the King of Spain and
accepted his award without the slight
est objection or remonstrance. Then,
having removed the only subject CT diff
ference between them, they went to
fghting about nothing at all.
Wars From Trivial Causes.
This has happened so often that it has
become habit The frequent armed
hostlities are almost invariably caused
by inconsequential personal jealousies.
The result is that although the people
are living in the midst of boundless
wealth, they are dying in poverty; al
though they are one of the most prolific
races in the world, they are decreasing in
population, and everybody agrees that 1t
the useless destruction of life and prop
erty
So this conference was called. 1t was
not sudden thing. 1t was developed
during the frequent consultations of the
resident diplomatists from Central Amer
lea with Assistant Secretary Bacon of the
Department of State. who undertook the
settlement Of the trouble between Nicara-
qua and Salvador last summer. 1t Is sim
ply a North American affair, a neighbor-
hood arrangement. 1t does not involve any
European interests. or any Monroe doc
trines. or any other kind of politics;
few neighbors have gathered here to talk
over the best methods of preventing future
family quarrels.
Proceedings Watched Anxiously.
The President Secretary Root. Assist
ant Secretary Bacon and other officials
of our government have been watching
the proceedings with intense anxiety and
interest. and they have been most hap
PLY gratified at the sincere. intelligent
and painstaking efforts that have been
made on every side to reach. practical
conclusion, and to adopt expedients that
shall correspond with the demands of
twentieth century civilization. The Of
ficials of our government believe that the
conventions that have been agreed upon
better realization of national duties,
a better exemplification of patriotism and
mutual obligations between the five sister
republics; and that most important
benefit and the Imitation Of the whole
world.
President Roosevelt and Secretary Root
commend the proceedings for the ability
and good sense that have. been shown,
and for the practical manner in which
he nr0hlens have been solved.
On the other hand, the delegates to the
conference are enthusiastic in their ad-
miration of Secretary Root and recipro-
cate his compliments by declaring that
ing hand Of the conference.
Mr.. Calvo, the Costa Rican minister,
who was one of the delegates from his
country. said yesterday that the unani-
ence was to embody in some practical
form the policy which has been so fire.
quently enupciated by Secretary Root,
whose advice has been sought In every
step of the proceedings. and who has
never failed to give the delegates col
lectively and individually the wisest sug-
gestions.
The influence of President Diaz of
Mexico has also been felt from the be-
Ginning to the end. He has taken pro-
found personal interest and has shown
the greatest anxiety in the proceedings.
He has watched every step quite as close
1y as Secretary Root. Mr.. Creel, the
Mexican bassador, has been in COM
munication with him daily by telegraph
Mexico and the United States have been
acting together with singleness Of pur-
pose, and their joint disinterested in
fiuence has been appreciated by the dele
gates and the government which they
represent.
Summary Of the Results.
The consequences of the conference may
be summarized laconically as follows:
1. Peace and the amicable settlement of
future controversies
2. Local disturbances and revolutions
have been made more difficult.
3. The use of government funds for In
ternal improvements instead Of for
guns and ammunition,
4. The farmers of the five republics may
hereafter be able to work unmolested.
g. The people of the five republics will
hereafter be permitted to acquire wealth
without exposing themselves to blackmail
from revolutionary adventurers.
6. There will be no more forced loans.
T. There will be no further empressment
Of young men into the army for military
service and the destruction of human life
to gain political advantage will be
stopped.
8. Imprisonment and assassination for
political reasons will be prevented.
0. The development of the marvellous re-
sources of the five countries will be per-
mitted.