Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-12-03
Friendship With Mexico :.
a Cause for Qualification

|, On the courteous invitation OF the Presl-
dent of Mexico, the Secretary of State
visited that country in September and
October and was received everywhere
with the greatest kindness and hospital
ity. -. 5..z-.e-';t =:
!. He carried from the government of the
United States. to our southern, neishbor a
message of respect and good will and OF
desire. for better acquaintance and in
creasng friendship. The response from
the government and the people. of Mex
leo was hearty and sincere. No.pains were
spared to manifest the most friendly at
titude and feeling toward the United
States. q; -.
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
800 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 resid-
ing upon our side of the line and 1t is
estimated that over 10000 Americans are
resident in Mexican territory and that
American investments in Mexico amount
to over 800 5000 q. The extraordinary
industrial. and commercial prosperity OF
Mexico has been greatly promoted by
sharing largely in it's results. The foreign
trade Of the republic already exceeds
$40 900 900 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 coun-
tries These questions are always. ap-
proac hed and disposed of in a spirit Of
mutual courtesy and fair dealing. Amer
leans carrying on business in Mexico
testify uniformly to the kindness and
consideration with which they are treated
and their sense of the security of their
property ard enterprises under the wise
administration of the great statesman
who has SO long held the Office Of chief
magistrate of that republic.
The two governments have been uniting
their efforts for considerable time past
to aid Central America in attaining the
degree of peace and order which have
made possible the prosperity OF the north
ern parts of the continent. After the
peace between Guatemala Honduras and
Salvador. celebrated under. the crcum-
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 peace conference between all the
countries of Central America. On the
18th day of September last protocol was
signed between the representatives Of
the five Central American countries ac-
credited to this government agreeing upon
A. conference to be held in the city of
Washington sin order to devise the
means Of preserving the good relations
among said republics and bringing about
permanent peace in those countries" The
protocol includes the expression Of
wish that the presidents of the United
States and Mexico should appoint rep
esentatives to lend their good and i'm
partial Offices in purel.- friendly way
toward the .realiza ton 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.
One of the results of the pan-American
Of 1906 has been a great increase in the
activity and usefulness of the interna-
tional bureau of American republics
That institution. which includes all the
American republics in it's membership
and brings all Their representatives to-
.yetheE..,is. doing really lluable work
in informing the people of the United
States. about the other republics and
m making the United States known to
them. IT'S action is now limited by. APP
prpprlatiors determined when 1t was do
ing a work on q much smaller scale and
rendering much less valuable service: !
recommend that the contribution of this
government to the expenses OF the bu-
reau be made commensurate with it's in
creased work.
THEODORE ROOSEVELT.
: The White HOUSE. December 3. 1907,