New-York tribune., 1912-02-29
KNOX EXPLAINS MISSION
To LAT|N-AMER|CA
United States Seeks Closer Re-
iations with Sister Repub-
lies, He Says.
MESSAGE OF GOOD WILL
Opening of Canal Fraught with
Great Possibilities-Neither
Sovereignty Nor Terri
tory Desired.


tory Desired.
Panama, Feb 2S.-Philander c. Knox, the
American Secretary Of State, made his nrst
formal appeal for a closer union OF the
American republics tonight. The occasion
was a state dinner given by the Acung
President OF Panama, Rodolfo Chiari' IN
honor OF Mr.. Knox. and, judging by the
applause the Secretary's remarks were re-
ceived I'm a spirit that was sympathetic and
cordial.
In response, the Panaman Minister Oh
Foreign Relations. Arlstides Arizona, the
only speaker of the evening, said:
We know that your mission is for inter-
rationnl concord and union. Tell your gov
crnment that we are linked by an lndissoiu-
BILE tie, a thousand reasons or gratltuuSe
binding the United States ana Panama, anu
we know how TO respond to an inYtatloi
from an American
Those present at the dinner included prac-
ticalIy all the government officials from
the President down. the members OF the
diplomatic and consular corps, and most OF
the officials of the Canal Zone. Fractional
politics were forgotten, DR.. Arosemena Sit
ting next 10 the Second Vice-President,
Frederico Boyd, who had refused to fill the
Presidency In Arosemenas vacation.
Secretary Knox was applauded when he
arose to speak, and seemed greatly pleased.
Secretary Knox's Speech.
Mr. Knox said the President Of the United
States believed that the early completion
of the canal should mark the beginning oil
closer relations between the United states
and all Latin America; that the purpose Oh
the United States toward all the American
republics was to live in amity and essen
tial harmony; and that the United states
desired more peace. more prosperity more
happiness and more security In their ma
tlonal lives. lie declared the United states
crayed neither sovereignty nor territory III
Latin America and that there was much
in common between the older and the
younger republics on this continent Mr.
Knox's address was in part as follows:
II is an honor and a sincere pleasure, Mr..
President, to be your guest ana the re-
cipient of the cordial welcome OF Panama
1t Is a privilege TO stand upon the thresn
hold OF the consummaton of the greatest
work done by man In or for the world ana
to feel that one Is not stranger upon tno
soil dedicated from the creation 10 DC
the scene OF a supreme EFFORT 1or nuilan s
manded 1t and mans genius should De edua'
1t was not until 1913, when Balboa stood
silent upon peak In Darien' ana sazeo
upon the waters II the Pacific, that II was
evident that the Hand that gave me sea-
and formed the land left II posslpie "
divide the hemisphere which hsltsd @ ,'rIssd Wess
ern progress, even as Moses had dlNded
the Red Sea that the children or lsrael
might pass. and though the hands OF the
early ndyigatOrs were unskllled TOT tne y.
gantic task their imaginations Sraspen the
possibility of its successful realization;
The history OF the project 10 oulo the
isthmian canal Is full OF strange hhuotia,
and personal disappolntments; Perhspfss pfsr,t ent
most tragic OF them all Is that colnciusnI
with Spain's loss of the last Yestlgs OF net
sovereignty In the New World the hhal aCl
OF the realization Of the dreams Oh he'
great navlgators began ,,,,,-o. tho
After many vicisstudes and falures tue
completion OF this stupendous work de-
volved upon the people of the Inlted stal,ytII,
who are thus thrown into relations WIN
IN. countries OF the isthunian region WINCH
with our geographical propinqulty, max
a broader understanding and more sym,
pathetic reciprocal interest between Us On
essential basis for the realization Oh lle
splendid possibilities which seem 70 nave
been decreed from the beginning OF time
Good Will to Sister Republics.
The President OF the United states Pc
lieyes that the early completion OF me
Panama Canal should mark the oeginnlhS
Of closer relations 10 all Latin America and
especially 10 the Caribbean littorai, as wen
81 the relations of these countries 10 eacn
other, and, impelied ny the thought that
this is an auspiclous moment through pet
ter acquaintance to lay the tcuhuau@ou1 @
upon which there should rest broaoeT con
ndence n closer sympathy and more prac-
teal reciprocal helpfulness, has sent hls
hither as a bearer OF u message or soou
will TO our sister American republics,
IL is the Presidents desire that nhGhI
s,ns nu1t
Plies might sec for myself your oeautllui
countries with their boundless resources
and economic possibilities, to the cho thsI
such direct personal knowledge, under
standing and appreciation might result III
mutual advantage and In co-operaton IoT
the development of all our countries re
sponding 10 the hospitality of the country
which has first and so generously received
mo and with which the relauons OF uN
country are so cordially intimate, tdhe
this opportunity or assuring al tne aHeLLl- aHL
can republics that the purpose of the
United. States toward them rs mat we
should live In amty and essential harlnonS
and that we desire only that more peace,
more prosperity, more happiness ana more
security should come into and become Il
nart OF their individual and national lives.
While II Is entirely clear to those VINO
have fairly and intelligently consiueTed ,lle
history OF the relations of the United states
TO the other American republics that our
policies have been without trace or SIN
lister motive or design, craving neither soV.
our motives toward YOU have not always
heen fortunately interpreted either at home
or faithfully represented py some OF our
nationals who have resided In your midst
While we have much TO learn OF eacn
other and are all 10 be vastly proiited by
clear and more sympathetic tes' yet ,ne ne
tween the elder and the younger repuolcs
there is much in common.
4 commonwealth founded on freedom or
conscience and security of individual rights
is not an exclusive heritage or saxon Amer
lea, but one shared by all the peoples or
the hemisphere who, Ike ourselves, have
passed through the severe trials that attend
the founding of communities In u new land.
However diverse our physical enNiron-
ments however great the contrast between
the natural obstacles to be surmounted,
whether amid the SHOWS and pine forests
equator and the pampas OF the south, the
aim Of our respective enterprises, expressed
in the undying words OF Lincoln, has been
the same TO bring forth on this continent
new nations conceived in liberty ana dedl-
Gated 10 the proposition that all men are
created equal.
Much has been said about the effect of
the opening of the Panama Canal, but
believe Il Is given to few OF us 10 realize
what magic possibilities are potential IN
that event AS I conceive IL, II Will create
for our Western world an entirely new
situation. a situation fraught with posi-
bllities so vast they daze the mind In this
new world we must be found drawn closer
by sympathies and mutual esteem, and
working In harmony toward benehcent
ends This must be so, for our greatest In
terests are those that are common TO MS
Ali we who live on the Western Hemls-
phere find ourselves by force or geography
In circumstances which make our situation
pecuiiar. and this fundamental fact gives
us privileges and imposes upon us duties