The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1909-12-10

AuiehAui W thc pIiuCipieS VI LuOueTd-
ton, equity and justice upon which
alone depends international credit in
diplomacy as well as in finance.
The Monroe Doctrine.
The pan-American policy Of this
government has long been fixed in It's
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.
won't and progressive ideals. the an
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.
My meeting with President Diaz and
the greeting exchanged on both Amer
lean and Mexican soil served, l hope,
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 network Of material
interests.
l am happy to say that all but one
of the cases which for SO long veyed
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
government Of Chile. The govern
ment of Chile had frequently admitted
obligation in the case and had prom
lsed this government to settle it. There
had been two abortive attempts to do
30 through arbitral commissions. which
failed through lack of jurisdiction.
Now, happily, as the result of the re-
cent diplomatic negotiations, the gov
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-
" Edward VII.
The Nicaraguan trouble.
Since the Washington conventions of
1907 were communicated to the gov
of the United States as q con-
sulting and advising party this gov
has been almost continuously
called upon by one or another and in
turn by all of the five Central Amer
can republics to exert itself for the
Of the conventions. Near
y 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
is relation to the Washington conven-
ions have been at all times conserva-
i've and have avoided, so far as posi-
Die, any semblance of interference, al
though it is very apparent that the
of geographic proximity
% the canal zone and of the very sub
;tantial American interests in Central
Amcrica give to the United States a
special position in the zone of these
'epublics and the Caribbean sea.
l need not rehearse here the patient
Efforts of this government to promote
,eace and welfare among these re-
)ublics, efforts which are fully appre-
lated by the majority of them who
ire loyal to their true interests. 1t
would be no less unnecessary to re-
iearse here the sad tale Of unspeak-
lble barbarities and oppression alleged |
o have been committed by the Zelaya |
government. Recently two Americans |
we're put to death by order of Presi |
lent Zelaya himself. They were Off
ers in the organized forces of q rev.
tuition which had continued many |
weeks and was in control of about |
.alf Of the republic, and as such, ac-
ording to the modern enlightened |
,ractice of civilized nations, they were |
untitled to be dealt with as prisoners |
# war.
At the date when this message is |
printed this government has termi- |
lated diplomatic relations with the |
,elaya government for reasons made |
,ublic In a communication to the for |
ner Nicaraguan charge d'affaires and
8 intending to take such future steps |
IS may be found most consistent with |
is dignity, its duty to American In
erests and its moral obligations to
central America and to civilization. It