The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-12-07

ing foreign markets. AS conse-
quence In all countries there are
American citizens and American in
terests to be protected on occasion by
their government. These movements
of men, of capital and of commodities
bring peoples and governments closer
together and so form bonds of peace
and mutual dependency, as they must
also naturally sometimes make passing
points of friction. The resultant sit
uation inevitably imposes upon this
government vastly increased RESPONSE
bilities This administra ton, through
the department of state and the for
eign service, is lending all proper sup
port to legitimate and beneficial Amer
lean enterprises in foreign countries,
the degree of such support being meas
ured by the national advantages to be
expected. A citizen himself cannot by
contract or otherwise divest himself
of the right, nor can this government
escape the obligation. Of his protection
in his personal and property rights
when these are unjustly infringed in
foreign country. To avoid ceaseless
vexation it is proper that in considering
whether American enterprise Should
be encouraged or supported in a par
ticular country the government should
give full weight not only to the ma
tional 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 admins
tration and in it's diplomacy faithful to
the principles of moderation, equity
and justice upon which alone depends
international credit in diplomacy as
well as in finance.
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 ap-
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 just 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 realization of political in
terests, community of institutions and
ideals and f1ourishing 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 intercontinental commerce of
the future. r.
My meeting with President Diaz and
the greeting exchanged on both Amer
lean and Mexican soil served, I hope,
to signaliZe 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
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
foII x, frao af
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 as
surance has been received that no ne.
gotiations injuriously affecting the sit
uation will be undertaken without con.
sultation.
The collection of the customs of the
Dominican Republic through the gen
| eral receiver of customs appointed by
the president of the United States in
accordance with the convention OF
Feb. s, 1907, has proceeded in an un
eventful and satisfactory manner The
| customs receipts have decreased owing
| to disturbed political and economic
| conditions and to a very natural cur
| tailment of imports in view of the an