The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1909-12-07
PRESIDENT TAFT TRA|I||h|TS FIRST ANNUAL
MESSAGE TO BOTH HOUSES OF CONGRESS
Urges Large Reduction in heovernments Expenditure and
Slices Both the Army md Navy Anticipatio6s-~
Newspapers Postage Cause of Postofice Deficit

partment of state and the foreign SER
vice. is lending all proper support to
legitimate and beneficial American
enterprises in foreign countries, the
degree of such support being measur-
ed by the national advantages to be
expected. A citizen himself can not
by contract or otherwise divest him
self of the right. nor can this govern
ment escape the obligation, of his
protection In his personal and proper
ty rights when these are unjustly in
fringed In foreign country. To
avoid ceaseless vexations it is proper
! that In considering whether American
enterprise should be encouraged or
supported in particular country, the
government should give full weight
not only to the national, as opposed
to the individual benefits to accrue,
but also to the fact whether or not
the government of the country in
question is in its administration and
in it's diplomacy faithful to the prin-
ciples of moderation, equity and JUS
tice upon which depend international
credit, in diplomacy as we'll as in f.
nance.
The pan-American policy of this
government has long been fixed in its
principles and remains unchanged.
With the changed circumstances of
the United States and Of the republics
Ito the south of us, most of which have
great natural resources, stable gov
'ernment and progressive ideals, the
apprehension which gave rise to the
Monroe doctrine may be said to have
nearly disappeared, and neither the
doctrine as 1t exists nor any other
doctrine of American policy should
be permitted to operate for the per-
petuation of irresponsible government,
the escape of just obligations. or the
ilsidious allegation of dominating am
bitions On-,the part of the United
States.
Beside the fundamental doctrines
of our pan-American policy there have
grown up a realization of political in
terests,e community of institutions and
ideais, and n fourishing commerce.
sAll these bonds will be greatly
strengthened as time goes on and in
creased facilities, such as the great
bank soon to be established in Latin
America, supply the means for build
ing up colossal intercontinental COM
I;merce Of the. future. .r ~
Meeting With Diaz. ee
My meeting with President Diaz
and the greeting exchanged on both
American and Mexican soil served, l
hope, so signalize the close and cor
dial relations which so we'll bind to-
gether this republic and the great re-
public Immediately to the south, be-
! tween which there is so vast a net
work of material interests.
l am happy to say that all but one
t'of the cases which for SO long vexed
our relations with Venezuela have
been settled within the past few
months and that, under the enlight-
ened regime now directing the gov
] ernment of Venezuela. provision has
j been made for arbitration of the re-
naming case before The Hague tribu-
nal.
On July 30, 1909,. the government of
negotiation. to indemnify the relatives
of the American officers and sailors
who were brutally treated. one of them
Panaman police this year.
The sincere desire of the govern
mnt to do away with situation whre
i l.
fest in the recent request in compli-
ance with which this government has
lent the services of an officer of the
ment of Panama as instructor of po-
/ lice.
| Cuban Sanitation.
The sanitary improvements and pub
lie works undertaken in Cuba prior
to the present administration of that
government, in the success of which
the United States is interested under
the treaty, are reported to be making
good progress and since the congress
provided for the continuance of the
reciprocal commercial arrangement
between Cuba and the United States
assurance has been received that no
negotiations ipjuriously affecting the
situation will be undertaken without
! consultation.
Central America.
Since the Washington conventions
of 1907 were communicated to the
government of the United States as a
, consulting and advising party, this
government has been almost continu-
| ously called upon by one or another,
and in turn by all of the five Central
American republics, to exert itself for
the maintenance of the conventions.
Nearly every complaint has been
against the Zelaya government Of Nj
caragua. which has kept Central
America in constant tension or tur-
moil. The responses made to the rep
RESERVATIONS of Central American re-
publics. as due from the United States
on account of its relation to the Wash
ington conventions, have been at all
times conservative and have avoided
80 far as possible, any semblance of
interference. although it is very ap-
parent that the considerations of geo
graphic proximity to the Canal zone
and of the very substantial American
interests in Central America give to
the United States special position
In the zone Of these republics and the
Caribbean sea. :sf
need not rehearse here the patient
efforts OF this government to promote
peace and welfare among these re-
publics, efforts which are fully appre-
ctated by the majority of them who