Weekly journal-miner. [volume] (Prescott, Ariz.) 1908-1929, 1912-01-24

bility that today rests upon the Unit
ed States" declared Secretary Knox
In an address before the New York
State Bar association here tonight,
sis that we should respond 20 the
needs still felt by some few Of our
Latin. American neighbors in their
progress toward good government by
assisting them TO meet their just obi
cations and 20 keep out Of trouble. :"
Urging the ratification Of the pro.
posed Nicaraguan and Honduran loan
conventions, Secretary Knox made n
radical departure from his former mr..
guments in their behalf, asserting ms
a responsibility incident TO the Mon
roe Doctrine the duty Of the United
States 10 assist those Central Ameri.
can countries 10 establish tranquility
within their borders through restoring
their finances 20 sound basis. Here
tofore Secretary Knox has pointed out
chiefly the benefits 60 be expected
from the adoption Of the loan con.
ventions through the prevention of
"the annual harvest Of revolution"
and the increase Of prosperity and
commerce
In his speech tonight, however, he
declared that IL was the positive duty
Of this country 10 lend assistance TO
the weak republics. He traced the
development Of the Monroe Doctrine,
asserting that II was the present
policy OF the United States under that
doctrine to lend helping hand TO
our sister Republics to the south TO
assure just determination OF the claims
Of European nations against them.
This admitted no responsibility for
their wrongdoings, and il was, said
Mr.. Knox, far cry from aiding n
ueighbor in doing right or defending
n right TO assuming "vicarious re.
sponsibility for his wrongdoings. !"
But this, he declared, was simply n
statement of the two extremes Of ths
ease, and il was the medium course
which at the present time this eoun-
try had to consider in determining its
} policy toward the Central American
Republics. In other words, the ques.
ton to determine, he said, was how
far the United States might 60 In
helping another American people "to
, avert any injurious consequences OF
wrongdoing."
Mr.. Knox drew support for his con
tentiops from message Of Presiden,
that the Monroe Doctrine did not
force the United States to interior.
in the ease Of European power at
, tempting to bring punishment against
} a Latin'Ameriean country for an out
rage committed against one of III
! citizens, except TO prevent such pun
} ishment by the European nation tina
assumed the form of territorial occu
patton. The United States. argued
} Mr.. Roosevelt, would certainly declin,
20 20 20 war to prevent foreigr
! government TO collect just debt, bu,
: II would prevent a foreign natior
: from even temporarily taking posses
sion of the eustomhouses of an Ameri
can Republic, for that was temporar,
occupation and might become per
manent occupation Upon this ques
tion, the Secretary said, Mr.. Roose
, welt argued in accord with himself
that the only escape from such alter
natives as would be presented IL
: such a ease would be for the United
States 'to bring about some argu
ment by which 20 much as possible
of n just obligation shall be paid
The Secretary also quoted Mr.. Rooss
welt as saying that II was far better
! for the United States to put through
: an arrangement for the payment OF
this obligation than for a foreign
country 20 do so.
From material standpoint, said
"f' Nh"h, tne QUESTION rehuctd itseii
simply TO one Of insurance.
, owe diminish our responsibility, y
} he said. sin proportion as we bring
about improved conditions. Like an
insurance risk our risk decreases a,
the conditions 20 which II pertains mr.,
improved"
The Secretary did not hesitate "a
admit that there was actual danger
presented In the question Of foreign
interference Ia Central American Re.
publies. In his discussion OF the Mon.
roe Dictrinc he traced the history 81
Cuba to show how wise had been the
policy Of the United States In oppos
ing the interference Of France and
Great Britain when those nations pro.