Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1909-12-07

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ment and progressive ideals, the APP
prehension which gave rise to the
Monroe doctrine may be said to have
nearly disappeared, and neither the
doctrine as it exists nor any other doc
trine of American policy should be
permitted to operate. for the perpetual
ton Of irresponsible government, the
escape Of inst obligations or the insidi-
Gus allegation of dominating ambitions
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, community of institutions and
ideals and a flourishing commerce. All
these bonds will be greatly strength
! ened as time goes on and increased
| facilities, such as the great bank soon
| to be established in Latin America.
supply the means for building up the
colossal irtercontinental commerce Of
the future.
My meeting with President Diaz and
the greeting exchanged on both Amer
lean and Mexican soil served, I hope,
to sigualize the close and cordial rela-
lions which so well bind together this
republic and the great republic imme-
diately to the south, between which
| there is SO vast a network of material
| interests.
1 am happy to say that all but one
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 govern
- ~, ct Inus han
made for arbitration of the remaining
case before The Hague tribunal.
On July 80, 1909, the government of
Panama agreed, after considerable ne
gotiation, to indemnify the relatives OF
the American officers and sailors who
were brutaJly treated, one Of them
having, indeed, been killed, by the
Panaman police this year.
The sincere desire of the government
| of Panama to do away with a situation
where such an accident could occur is
manifest in the recent request in COM
pliance with which this government
has lent the services of an officer of
the army to be employed by the gov
eminent OF Panama as instructor OF
police.
The sanitary improvements and pub
lie works undertaken IN Cuba prior to
the present administration of that gov
eminent, in the success of which the
United States is interested under the
treaty, are reported to be making good
progress, and since the congress pro-
vided for the continuance of the recip-
rocal commercial arrangement be-
tween Cuba and the United States
assurance has been received that nc
negotiations injuriously affecting the
situation will be undertaken without
consultation.
The collection Of the customs of the
Dominican Republic through the gen
eraI receiver of customs appointed by
the president of the United States in
accordance with the convention OF
Feb. 8. 1907, has proceeded in an IN
eventful and satisfactory manner. The
customs receipts have decreased owing
to disturbed political and economic
conditions and to a very natural cur
taiIment of imports in view Of the an
tlcipated revision of the Dominican
tariff schedule. The payments to the
fiscal agency fund for the service of
the bonded debt of the republic, as
provided by the convention, have been
isfactory progress has been made in
carrying out the provisions of the con-
vention looking toward the completion
of the adjustment of the debt and the
requirement by the Dominican govern
ments of certain concessions and mo-
nopolies which have been a burden to
the commerce of the country. In short,
the receivership has demonstrated it's
ability, even under unfavorable eco
nomic and political conditions, to do
the work for which it was intended.
This government was obliged to in
tervene automatically to bring about
arbitration or settlement of the claim
of the Emery company against Mica
ragua, which it had long before been
agreed should be arbitrated. A settle
ment of this troublesome case was
reached by the signature of protocol
on Sept. Is, 1909.
Claim Against Chile.
Many years ago diplomatic interven-
ton became necessary to the protec-
ton of the interests in the American
claim of Alsop & Co. against the
government of Chile. The govern
ment Of Chile had frequently admitted
obligation in the case and had prom
Used this government to settle it. There
had been two abortive attempts to do
so through arbitral commissions, which
failed through lack of jurisdiction.
Now, happily, as the result of the re-
cent diplomatic negotiations, the gov
ernments of the United States and of
Chile, actuated by the sincere desire
to free from any strain those cordial
and friendly relations upon which both
set such store, have agreed by protO
col TO submit the controversy to defni-
tive settlement by his Britannia majes-
ty Edward VII.
ZELAYA GOVERNMENT SCORED.