Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-05-01
AN UPL|FT TO TRADE
Financial Aid to Nicaragua and
Honduras Urged.
VIEWS OF SECRETARY KNOX
Address in Review of His Recent
Latin-American Tour.
TALKS OF NATIONAL POLICY
In Speech at New Orleans Cabinet
Officer Discloses Conditions At
fecting Panama Canal.

NEW ORLEANS. May lin the first
address which he has made since his re-
turn to the United States from his Latin
American tour Secretary of State Knox
yesterday confirmed the reports that he
has returned more determined than ever
aggressively to push his policy of finan-
eial assistance to Honduras and Nicara-
qua.
speaking at the centenary celebration
of the state of Louisiana here last night.
Secretary Knox declared that New Or
leans and the south could not enjoy to
the fullest extent the Increased foreign
commerce which the opening Of the Pan
anna canal is to bring them unless the
commercial development of certain of the
Central American states was made pos
sible by their financial regeneration and
the esta blishment of stable governments.
Trade cannot flourish unless govern
ments are stable and conditions peace
full said Mr.. Knox. How important.
therefore, it is that we should, especially
with respect to countries In geographic
proximity to the Canal Zone. contribute
to the removal of conditions Of tnrbu-
lence and instability by giving them all
possible proper assistance in the promo
ton of peace. in the development of their
resources and in the sound regeneration
of their fiscal systems.
Both Burdened With Debts.
This has lately been the effort of the
federal government with respect to Hon
duras and Nicaragua. BY reason of long
years of governmental maladministration
and internal disturbances these countries
found themselves with depleted treas
uries and burdened with debts and claims
which they were unable to meet without
outside aid. Their plight. directly or in
directly obstructs the development of the
rest of Central America.
Not only Lou! Siana, but every state
bordering on the Gulf Of Mexico is in
terested in the peaceful development of
Central America. 1t is estimated that in
1909 the total trade of the United States
with Central America and Panama ex-
ceeded S42 OOO,OCO of which. Apr oXimate-
ly. % per cent was handled through the
gulf ports-New Orleans alone having
50, 09N.GlO worth of this trade. Stop and
consider that since the United States ex-
tended helping hand to the Dominican
Republic the total trade of that country
has more than trebled. and YOU will have
some idea of what benefit would result to
the southern states should the Mica
raguan and Honduran treaties be con-
Summated.
Louisiana Specially Interested.
ITO no part OF our country is the de-
velopment of our commerce in the carib-
bean region Of more Importance than to
the state of Louisiana and the city of
New Orleans. and to no part is it of more
interest that in that region conditions for
the promotion of trade should exist. Such
condlt .ons cannot exist in circumstances
such as control in Honduras and Mica
ragua. with their baneful ind rect effect
upon the rest of Central America. There
fore. as useful Observation-Disclosures for COM
mercial expansion, if for no other reason,
the treaties with Nicaragua and Honduras
now before the Senate should have the
sympathy and support not only of Louis
lana, but OF the whole Mississippi valley
and southern states.
The opening of the Panama CANAL
declared Mr.. Knox, Twill make New Or
leans the logical port of export to the
orient for all the products of the Missis-
sippi valley. which region is today the
greatest single producer Of products en-
tering international commerce.
Direct Route by Water.
BY the breaking down of the barriers
which have separated the Atlantic from
the Pacific he said the Mississippi val