The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1912-05-01
u. s. MUST HELP
LATIN AMERICA
Secretary Knox in First Speech
Since Return Advocates
Development
OUR TRADE DEPENDS UPON 1T
Honduras and Nicaragua Already
Being Assisted
instability Of Government Must Be
Removed and the National Debts
Wiped Out.

New Orleans, May lin the first
address which he has made since mis-
return to the United States from his
Latin American tour, Secretary of
state Knox today confirmed the re-
ports that he has returned more de-
termined than ever to aggressively
push his policy OF financial assistance
TO Honduras and Nicaragua.
Speaking at the centenary celebra-
tion of the state OF Louisiana here.
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 Panama Canal is to bring them
unless the commercial development OF
certain of the Central American States
was made possible by their financial
regeneration and the establishment of
stable governments.
Must Bring About Peace.
Trade cannot flourish unless gov
ernments are stable and conditions
peaceful" said Mr.. Knox. How inn
portant therefore it is that we should,
especially in respect to countries
in geographic proximity to the
Canal one.( contribute to the
removal of conditions of turbulence
and instability by giving them all
proper assistance in the promotion OF
peace, in the development OF their
resources, and in the sound regenera-
tion Of their fiscal systems. This has
lately been the effort of the federal
government with respect TO Honduras
and Nicaragua. BY reason of long
ears OF governmental mall admins
tration and internal disturbances these
countries found themselves with de-
pleted treasures and burdened with
debts and claims which they were un-
able to meet without outside aid. Their
plight directly or Indirectly. obstructs
the development of the rest OF Cen
trail America.
Gulf States Must Help.
Not only Louisiana but every State
on the Gulf Of Mexico Is in
terested in the peaceful development
If Central america. 1t is estimated
hat in 1909 the total trade OF the
United States with Central America
and Panama exceeded forty-two mill
lions of dollars of which, approxi-
mately. twenty-five per cent was han
died through the Gulf ports New or
lapne p1,pn baNfno MIN. ,,, iIlf,pss ~ d.t
lars worth of this trade. stop and
that since the United States
extended ~ helping hand To the Do
minican Republic the total trade of
that country has more than trebled,
md you will have some idea of what
benefit would result TO the Southern
States should the Nicaraguan and Hon
duran treaties be contaminated.
Should Support Treaties.
To no part OF the country is the
development of our commerce in the
Caribbean region of more Importance
han TO the state of Louisiana and the
'ity OF New orleans and to no part
Is Il If more interest that in that re-
lion conditions for the promotion of
trade should exist. Such conditions
cannot exist i'm circumstances such as
control in Honduras and Nicaragua,
with their baneful indirect effect up
nm the rest Of Central America. There
fore. as useful instrumentalities FOR
expansion, " for no other
reason. the treaties with Nicaragua
and Honduras now before the senate
should have the sympathy and support
not only Of Louisiana but of the whole
Valley and southern states.
Opening Of Canal.
"Thc opening of the Panama Canal"
declared Mr.. Knox. "will make New
Orleans the logical ports Of export TO
the orient for all thr products Of the
Valley, which region is to-
day the greatest single producer of
products entering international COM
mercc BY the breaking down Of the
barriers which have separated the At
lantic from the Pacific" he said. "the
Mississippi Valley through New Or
leans will have a direct route by water
10 ail Oh Nht N'Hl NvdSt VI S'uth Ahh-
erica: a route 20 Japan five thousand
miles shorter than at present. TO
Shanghai thirty-fVe hundred miles
shorter, to Hongkong two thousand
miles shorter. to the Philippines two
thousand miles shorter, to Australia
FIVE thousand miles shorter, and 10
New Zealand nearly eight thousand
miles shorter.
1t viii place New Orleaas nearer to
most OF these ports than is London.
the great commercial center of our
nrincinal rival In the oriental tialde" :"