The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1912-09-19
STATE DEPARTMENT NOTE.

The note sent by our Department oi
State TO Nicaragua does not seem to bf
well-cousdered document. 1t is said
that the note is expected 10 be an ad
monition to all the Latin,Americau Re
publics. especially to the weakcr ones
! But, as we do not, in fact, conform tc
! the substance of that note ourselves. WE
could hardly expect that any particular
good can come of the sentiment carried
| in such note.
This note states that this country de-
sires to foster true constitutional gov
ernment and free elections in the
countries referred to, and to this end
strong moral support will be given es-
tablished governments against revolu-
tion based upon the selfish designs of
would-be despots and not upon any prin-
ciple or popular demand, The note
continues: fForce will be used if
necessary. in maintaining free communi-
cation TO and to protect American
ministers and legations. The note may
be supposed to be an encouragement to
governments already established in
these weaker nations; but unfortunate
" the practice Of our State Department,
especially in Nicaragua, has not borne
this out; for, when Estrada revolted
against the established government of
Nicaragua with Zelaya as President, the
voice Of this country was emphatically
for Estrada, we claiming that he was the
people Is choice, and the Minister to
this country from the Helaya govern.
ment WAS given his walking papers as
representing a government not in con.
And yet, our position was shown to be
wrong. for the people ousted Estrada
promptly when they got a fair chance
at him.
It is manifest that in carrying out
any policies outlined in this note, the
United States makes itself the super
visor over the affairs Of all of those
weaker Latin-American nations. In case
the question should ever arise whether
true constitutional government and
free elections were at stake in any of
these governments, this country would
necessarily assume 10 decide the ques-
ton, But a supervision Of this kind
ioes, in fact, destroy the independence
'f those governments, and puts the
nations referred to under the tutelage
IF the United States. This is precisely
what those countries have always com.
,lained of, and have charged against
he United States, and that this coun~
ry has uniformly denied. BY what |
light, those countries ask, shall the
United States say whether constitu
ional government exists in those States
'r not, or whether the elections have
'eeu free and do, in fact, express the
will Of the people7 II is evident that |
my power taking to itself the right to
Iecide upon these questions assumes the |
light of overlordship in those coun-
ries, and is at liberty TO interfere for |
he control of those governments at any |
ime that 1T may see fit.
We regard the promulgstion of a
"a pc iihS bhio az luS present Ulm0 dB |
f extremely doubtful propriety. If we
lie to treat Nicaragua and Honduras
s under our suzerainty, as we neces.
arily must do IN order to carry out |
he terms and meaning of this State
department. note, on what principles can
ye evade like responsibility in the
ase of Mexico, Colombia, Venezuela,
ecuador, or Peru7 With the opening of
he Panama canal our direct relations
18th the countries Of the west coast
f South America will become far closer
han heretofore, and 1t would have been
be part of wisdom to be cautious in the
ssertion Of overlordship such as this,
EST we drive away whatever friend.
mess may exist toward us among the
eople of those countries Even now
he Ecuadorian government is so hos
lie to the United States and its people
hat that government is undertaking
D ignore the bids submitted by Ameri-
an contractors for the sanitary clean
az up of Guayaquil, which has been
ing known as the plague spot of the
oast
We doubt very much if Secretary
-nox, had he been at home, would have
lther formulated or consented to the
Of a note like this.