The Washington times., 1911-06-14
DOLLAR DIPLOMACY" THE
DAMNATION OF A PHRASE.

Our State Department, sincerely try
ing to straighten out the maze of po-
litical and financial difficulties that in
volve Central America, has made effort
to minimize the effect of an unfor
tunate phrase. Dollar diplomacy"
was not invented by the department,
but it sticks. The department, nota-
bly, Assistant Secretary Wilson, has
skillfully accepted the challenge which
the phrase implies, and attempted to
make the public understand that dollar
diplomacy is in fact practical, useful
diplomacy. In its proposed applica-
tions in Central America, there can
hardly be doubt on this point. But
give a dog a bad name and go hang
him.
Certainly it is not desirable that
Central America, the front door to the
Canal Zone, shall continue the prey of
tumult, revolution, and anarchy, a
standing menace of complications with
Europe. Do we want some naval power
seizing and administering custom
houses within a days steaming of the
canal? Are we prepared to risk all
possible eventualities to prevent such
a situation?
In Santo Domingo we were COM
PEELED, by show of force, to impose a
customs administration and adjustment
of debts, in order to prevent other
countries intervening.
Such a necessity might arise in Cen
trail America, in circumstances making
it vastly more difficult.
Our Caribbean posture will hereafter
be intimately related to our national
security. Is it not well to remove
every possible pretext for friction?
1t will not do to say that the huge
foreign debts of these little republics
represent merely graft, and can be re-
pudiated. Reputation has not been
part of our national policy. After the
revolution of l776 the new Federal
Government not only assumed the stag
gering burden of the confederation's
debts, but added to it the war debts
of the States. Reputation never re-
ceived consideration, in the forum of
real public opinion, after the civil war.
This country has paid its own debts;
it cannot become defender or adviser
of reputation. The arrangements for
funding and amortization of the Hon
duran and Nicaraguan debts are such
as reasonably to assure ultimate pay
ment, and, pending that payment, to
guarantee peace, quiet, and progress.
Central America will be better for
these conventions; so will we. The
canal will be safer. The future of COM
mercial opportunity in the rich Carib-
bean region will be brighter. Nothing
startling, unreasonable, or bizarre is
No precedent will be estab-
lished; it has been made long ago in
Santo Domingo by this country, in
Morocco by Europe's powers, in China
by the customs convention. 1t is part
of the debt civilization owes to the
weaker countries.
Senator Bacon spoke recently with
fine scorn of the improperly of mixing
with these mere material
But is the new South,
alive to the commercial opportunities;
the possibilities of expansion and de-
velopment in trade to the middle
Americas, going to approve this lofty
scorn of the merely materiali Are
Birmingham, New Orleans,
and Savannah going to be so affrighted
at Wall Street phantoms that they
will disregard business considerations
that make the canals opening appear
to them the dawning of a new era of
commercial possibilities?