Lewiston evening teller. [volume] (Lewiston, Idaho) 1903-1911, 1907-01-16
BUILD UP OUR
FOREIGN TRADE
Root Outlines His Policy
on International
Questions

Washington, Jan. 16.-At yester- /
Secretary of State Root, /
who was the principal speaker, was
accorded an ovation, his remarks be- !
ing frequently Interrupted by applause
and cheers. He gave a resume of the
trade relations of the United States
practically with the entire world, and
outlined what was necessary to secure
greater commercial advantages for this
country. incidentally he touched on
the tariff and said, speaking for him.
self alone, that he favored the policy
of maximum and minimum rates.
To his view the country was advance
ing. He said our relations continually
grow more reasonable, more sensible
and kindly with Europe, with our
vigorous and growing neighbor to the
north, with our rapidly advancing and
developing neighbors to the south and
with the nations that face US on the
other side of the Pacific
Pleas for Closer Trade.
Little occasions for controversy, he
said. little causes Of irritation and
little incidents of conflicting interests
continue to arise as they do among
friends and neighbors in the same
town, but the general trend of inter-
national relations is toward mutual
self respect. mutual consideration and
good understanding.
Secretary Root entered into an ex-
haustive discussion Of the resources
in the Latir-American republics and
made a plea for closer trade rela-
tions with them. The construction Of
the Panama railroad, he said, will be
an accomplished fact before many
years. SO that it will be possible for
passengers and merchandise to travel
by rail from Maine to Buenos Ayres.
He said further that one of the OBJ
jects of the Rio conference last sum-
mer was to further the interest of the
building Of that road and that it had
had it's effect.
critieises Steamship Service.
He criticised the steamship service
between this country and South Amer
lea and declared that subsidies alone
designed to meet cheaper wages and
living expenses on foreign steamship
lines could bring about an adequate
American merchant marine.
AS to the smaller countries, about the
Caribbean and West Indies countries,
Secretary Root said that they had had
a hard time. the conditions being such
that ct times 1t was difficult for them
to maintain stable government.
& Poor Cuba he exclaimed, with
her wonderful climate and richness of
soil. has suffered. We have done the
best we could to help her.
Made World Our Friend.
He said that the attitude of the
United States toward these countries
could be put in this sentence:
First, we don't want to take them
ourselves; second, we don't want any
foreign nation to take them for them
| selves and third we want to help them
and we will"
There was" he said, much talk
| about annexing Cuba. but, said he,
| never. SO long as the people Of Cuba
do not themselves give up the effort
to govern themselves"
Secretary Root told what the United
States had done to help Santo Do
mingo with its creditors. He declared
| this treatment Of Santo Domingo, like
| the treatment of Cuba, was bu. "a part
Of great policy which shall in the
years to come determine the relations
OF this vast country with its life and
enterprise, and also OF great policy
of justice and righteousness"
! On the subject OF reciprocity treaties,
Secretary Root said there were some
countries with which he would like to
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