Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1909-12-08
alone depends international credit In
diplomacy as well as in finance.
Tho Monroe Doctrine.


Tho Monroe Doctrine.
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 to
the south Of us, most of which have
great natural resources. stable govern
ment and progressive ideals. the ao
prehension which gave rise to the
Monroe doctrine may be said to Fave
nearly disappeared. and neither the
doctrine as 1t exists nor any other doc
trine Of American policy should be
permitted to operate for the perpetual
ton Of irresponsible government, the
escape Of just obligations or the insidi-
Gus allegation of dominating ambitions
on the part Of the United States
My meeting with President Diaz and
the greeting exchanged on both Amer
to signalize the close and cordial rela-
tons which so well bind together this
republic and the great republic imme-
diately to the south, between which
there is so vast q network Of material
interests.
l 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
ment Of Venezuela, provision has been
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 brutally treated. one Of them
having. indeed. been killed by the
Panaman police this year.
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 1t 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.
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
ised this government to settle 1t. 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 defin-
tive settlement by his Britannia majes-
ty Edward VII.
The Nicaraguan Trouble.
Since the Washington conventions OF
1907 were communicated to the gov
eminent of the United States as con-
sulting and advising party this gov
eminent has been almost continuously
called upon by one or another and In
turn by all of the five Central Amer
lean republics to exert itself for the
maintenance of the conventions. Near
" every complaint has been against
the Zelaya government Of Nicaragua,
which has kept Central America In
constant tension or turmoil. The re-
sponses made to the representations of
Central American republics as due
from the United States on account of
it's relation to the Washington conven-
lions have been at all times conserva-
tive and have avoided, so far as posi-
BILE, any semblance of interference, al
though it is very apparent that the
considerations of geographic proximity
to the canal zone and Of the very sub
stantial American interests in Central
America give to the United States a
special position in the zone Of these
republics and the Caribbean sea.
l need not rehearse here the patient
efforts of this government to promote
peace and welfare among these re-
publics, efforts which are fully appre-
ciated by the majority Of them who
are loyal to their true interests. 1t
would be no less unnecessary to re-
hearse here the sad tale Of unspeak-
able barbarities and oppression alleged
to have been committed by the Zelaya
government. Recently two Americans
were put to death by order of Presi-
dent Zelaya himself. They were OFF,
GERS in the organized forces Of a rev.
olution which had continued many
weeks and was in control Of about
half Of the republic, and as such, ac-
cording to the modern enlightened
practice Of civilized nations, they We're
entitled to be dealt with as prisoners
Of war.
At the date when this message Is
printed this government has termi-
mated diplomatic relations with the
Zelaya government for reasons made
public in a communication to the for
mer Nicaraguan charge d'affaires and
is intending to take such future steps
Us may be found most consistent with
It's dignity, its duty to American in
terests and its moral obligations to
Central America and to civilization. 1t
may later be necessary for me to bring
this subject to the attention Of the
congress In special message.