The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1909-11-25

Americans of their suspicion and dis
like for us. A lot of American claim
ants, who were unable to get salts
faction from Castro, Zelaya and other
slow payers, had only a small appre-
citation of the Root diplomacy. But
it seemed to make a hit with the
heads of the governments concerned.
There has been a complete reversal
of the Root policy in dealing with the
delinquent South American republics.
The relations established by Mr.. Root
have been smashed right and left.
Pay up or take the consequences"
has been Secretary Knox's motto. The
first thing Secretary Knox did after
coming into the state department was
to make President Zelaya of Nicara-
qua understand that the Emery claim
must be paid at once, or American
gunboats would be on the scene to
make trouble. There were no molly
coddle terms in the Knox ultimatum.
Chile Backed Down.
Zelaya paid up. Then came the
crash with Chile. That republic back
ed out of an agreement to settle the
Alsop claim. Mr.. Knox fired an ulti-
matum in that direction. Agree to
arbitration IN ten days or we will
withdraw our minister" cabled Knox
to Santiago. After recovering their
breath the Chileans complied. 1t was
very different from the Root way Of
doing things.
Now Mr.. Knox is putting the screws
Hh~ oh S0T
making Zelaya is to feel the heavy
hand of the state department, or. rath.
err, of the navy department. Instead
of making the murder of Groce and
Cannon the subject of long-drawn-out
correspondence, couched in the usual
flowery, courteous phrases, Secretary
Knox has demanded apology and re-
paration. Zelaya has undoubtedly dis
covered before this the difference be-
tween Root and Knox. He is expect
ed to come to the scratch just as Chile
did. But even at that he will doubt
less be made to feel in substantial
manner the displeasure of the United
States at his conduct.
(Which is the better policy in the
long run-the soft word of Root or
the shotgun gunboat method of
Knox?" This is a question which
diplomats here are asking one another
with interest.
Methods Not High-Handed.
1t is of special concern to the cigar.
ette-smoking diplomats of Central and
South America. They have been send
ing some interesting dispatches to
their home governments during the
last three months.
At every capital in Central and
South America it is fully realized that
there is a man in the state department
at Washington who is reasonably
quick on the trigger, and that it will
be dangerous to attempt the old time
subterfuges, evasions and tricks in fu,
ture dealings with the American gov.
eminent
1t is pointed out on behalf of Sec.
rotary Knox that he has not adopted
high-handed methods in dealing WITH
all our southern neighbors He has
brought up with a sharp turn only
those countries that have committed
gross wrongs against American citi
zens and showed no inclination to
right the injuries done. He has made
them understand that the United
States will tolerate no foolishness. On
the other hand. nothing has occurred
to disturb the friendly and cordial re-
| lations with the numerous republics
down there which treat our citizens
with fairness and consideration.