Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-12-07


to emphasize most strongly the impor- |
lance that should be attributed to the |
contamination of the conventions be- |
tween the republics OF Nicaragua and |
OF Honduras ard this country. and l |
again earnestly recommend that the |
necessary advice and consent OF the |
senate be accorded to these treaties. |
which will make it possible for these |
Central American republics to enter |
upon an era Of genuine economic ma
tional development. 80
Our relations with the republic Of
Panama. peculiarly important. due to
mutual obligations and the vast in
terests created by the canal. have con-
tinued In the usual friendly manner,
and we have been glad to make ap-
propriate expression Of our attitude
Of sympathetic interest in the endeav-
ors Of our neighbor in undertaking the
development of the rich resources of
the country. With reference to the in
ternal political affairs of the republic,
our obvious concern Is in the main
tenance Of public peace and constitu-
tional order and the fostering of the
general interests created by the actual
relations of the two countries with
out the manifestation Of any prefer
ence for the success Of either of the
political parties
IN THE FAR EAST.
The past year has been marked in
our relations with China by the con-
clusion of two important international
loans. one for the construction of the
Hukuang railways, the other for the
carrying out Of the currency reform to
which China was pledged by treaties
with the United States. Great Britain
and Japan. of which mention was
made in my last annual message.
1t will be remembered that early in
1909 an agreement was consummated
among British. French and German
| financial groups whereby they pro-
posed to lend the Chinese government
funds for the construction of railways
in the provinces Of Human and Hupeh,
reserving for their nationals the priv
lege Of engineering the construction of
the lines and of furnishing the mate
rails required for the work After ne
| gotiations with the governments and
groups concerned an agreement was
reached whereby American, British,
French and German nationals should
participate upon equal terms in this
important and useful undertaking
| Thereupon the financial groups, sup
ported by their respective governments,
began negotiations with the Chinese
I
to China of S30,000,OOO. with the privi-
lege of increasing the amount to $780,
100000. The cooperative construction
of these trunk lines should be of i'm
mense advantage, materially and other
wise, to China and should greatly IA
cilitate the development of the boun:i-
full resources of the empire. On the
other hand, a large portion Of these
funds is to be expended for materials,
American products having equal pref
erence with those of the other three
lending nations, and as the contract
provides for branches and extensions
subsequently to be built on the same
terms the opportunities for American
materials will reach considerable pro
portions.
Knowing the interest of the United
States in the reform of Chinese cur
rency. the Chinese government. in the
autumn of 1910. sought the assistance
of the American government to pro
cure funds with which to accomplish
that all important reform. In the
course of the subsequent negotiations
there was combined with the proposed
currency loan one for certain indus
trial developments in Manchuria the
two loans aggregatinG the sum of $50.
100000. While this was originally t
be solely an American enterprise. tho
American government. consistently
with its desire TO secure a sympathetic
and practical cooperation Of the grea
powers toward maintaining the prin
ciple of equality Of opportunity an(
the administrative integrity of China
urged the Chinese government TO ad
NIT to participation in the currency
, loan the associates OF the American
group in the Hukuang loan.
NEUTR Al. FINANCIAL ADVISER.
When these negotiations were begu
It was understood that financial a6
= wiser was to be employed by China 4
connection with the reform, and in o,
der that absolute equality IL all ~
spects among the lending nation
might be scrupulously observed tn
American government proposed tn
nomination Of a neutral adviser, whic
was agreed to by China and the othe
governments concerned. On Sept. 2S
: 1911. DR.. Vissering, president of tn
I Dutch Java bank and a financier Q
= wide experience in the orient, was rec
3 commended to the Chinese government
j for the post OF monetary adviser.
|. Especially important at the present
. when the ancient Chinese empire
d shaken by civil war incidental to il
awakening to the many influences an
activities OF modernization, are the c.
: operative policy of good understandin
which has been fosteEsd by the intel
national projects referred to abov
and the general sympathy of vieV
among all the powers interested in tn
. far east While safeguarding the il
. | forests Of our nationals this goyerf