The sun., 1910-05-03


For the hr.t time in the history Of our 4
country Congress adopted the plan of
maximum aud minimum tAriE. the maNi- !
mum being .s per cen, greater than the
minimum Heretofore We had had but
single rigid taTih aud In dealing With 'oun- |
tries that had two tariffs or three. We had
no advantage to offer them In securing from
them the benefit Of The lower rates.
The tarti hul Was signed August :. !
1909 and according to lts terms u was
required Of the Executive and that means
the State Department With srch assist
ance from tartI experts as the President
might diregtly appoint to investigate the
tariTs and trade regulations Of everv nation
In the orld with whom the United states
hsd any commerce whatever. TO deteTmine
v Nhether In anv Of these reaperts there was
undue diacriniinaii Ton against the trade OF
the Inhed states In favor Of the trade Of
some other nation aud by negotiation 20
seek 10 end Il. and " unsuccessful 10 allow
the MA Vimum tarii 10 20 into operation.
An this had 10 he done aud the negO'in-
| lions TO secure the removal of such dis
/ crimiraiion. ~ we're found had 10 be com
pletsd and prOClamaiions iss,ied aRnOunc-
ing the result before the aist Ot the fo'!s~'
ing March,
Inc Work mas ue9n Wuns " WI. hAoA
and me state Department, and has been
we'll done. We have succeeded In securing
from al countries substantially their mint
mum tariH. or II not their minimum tarin
/ in terms. such concessions a. 20 be eduiva-
| lent 10 thoas benefits under the minimum
tariff denied TO us.
/ nder present conditions there IL no
undue dIacrlm nation against tho trade
4 Of the United states by any country with
I which the United ~ ates has commercial
/ relations
The example act by the last Administra-
ton. with Mr. Root at the head Of the State
Department. 10 culsivating ROOd relations
with all the South American and Central
American republics has been followed
ciosely By Mr. Knox and the Department
under him ! say this deliberately for the
purpose of meeting suggestions and crtii-
cism that there has been a departure from
such policy. and l venture TO affrm that
never before IN the history of the country
have our relations with south American and
Central American republics been more
friendly than they are to-day.
~ tact and diplomatic guidance . war
hetaeen Peru and Bolivia was avoided. and
not a little Of the credit for reaching an
honorable and pacific se'tlemen, yas due
io the sensible and straightforward suEges-
ton n our Secretary Of state.
Il The boundary dispute bet ween Costa
Rlca and Panama was lately settled BY the
friendly Office Of Secretary Knox and =
convention signed providing for arbitra-
ton BY the chief Justice Of the United
states Relations between Peru and
Ecuador are ai present strained. due also
to boundary dispute. IN which acrimonious
feeling has been developed on both sides
and in regard 10 which our peace making
Secretary of state 10 bending his energies
10 bring about a solution honorable 10 both
parties.
The fact that IN respect 90 ne claim pend
ing against one Of the South American re-
pubhCs ouT state Department took FIRM
stand and insist 81 On = settlement - not
10 be- regarded In the slightest degree NJ an
evidence Of our lack Of friendship for that
Government OF our earnest desire 10 main
tain the friendiisat relations With ell SOaih h
America. But a. Secretary Of State Of the
nited states he would be- recreant 10 ell
the proper rules governing bis duty II he
neKle'ted The iust rights of American
citizens In dealing With any country how
ever important her friendship.
The course of our state Department with
respect 90 certain small Central American
states has been subjects 20 criticism. which
20 me seems wholly unwarranied. Turbu-
lence and unstable conditions IN Central
America have been perennial occupation
70 the department of STATE
The great disiurber of Central America
IN recent years has been Ielaya. the tyr
annical and unpuncipl-i President of the
Republic of Nicaragua. With Tszp"ct 10
every plan for the promotion Of paci1cation
-. I'll a..
rrpublic~. he played the part Of MArplOt
When hi- brutal and cruel eNactions drove
part ~ the people Of Nicaragua into re-
bellion nnd an extended civil war. he vio-
lated the laws u war and the rights Of
American citizens who had regularly sn-
listed IN the ranks Of the revOlutionists
by taking their lives.
lie thus gave q right - the Government
Of The nited states 10 demand reparatiOn
aud IN decline BY reason Of the character
oi his Government exemplined by this
cfurliv toward American citizens 10 with
draw all diplomatic relations by letter Of
Secretary knox which gave full reasons
. therefor ana which nOthed the cOniendtng
forces In Nicaragua that The United states
would hold each one 70 strict Accounta-
bility we're the rights of American citizens
further outraged.
u is undoubtedly true that the attitude
of the nited states toward Eelaya 80 In
iured his prestige and brought him 20
clearly N the bar Of the public opinion Of
the world a. an International criminal that
he was obliged 10 abdicate and leave his
Government 20 a better nan.
u is hoped that The var betWeen The
factions II nov drawing 10 close aud that
q FAR better Government may he estab-
lisbed witch shall have regard 10 the inter