Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-02-11
KNOX GOING ABROAD
Visit of Courtesy to Spanish
American Countries.
SAILS INSIDE TWO WEEKS
Will Gather Information and Guilt
vate Friendly Relations.
TRIP ADVISED BY PRESIDENT
Secretary's Itinerary Will Include
Cuba, Venezuela, Colombia, Pana-
ma and Neighboring Sections.

BY direction of President Taft. Secre.
tary Of State Knox will leave Washing
ton shortly on trip to the Spanish
American countries bordering on the
Caribbean sea and the Gulf of Mexico
The purpose of the trip is twofold-frst
to gather first-hand information on con-
ditions In those countries which will en-
able the President and the Secretary OF
State to deal more intelligeftly with the
diplomatic questions arising there, and
next to cultivate friendly and cordial
relations with the rulers of the Spanish
American republics.
Secretary Knox will make the trip on
the armored cruiser Washington, which
has been placed at his disposal by the
Navy Department. He will sail from
some point in Florida within the next
two weeks and will probably be away
from Washington about six weeks
His itinerary is now being arranged.
First Stop at Havana.
The first stop will probably be at Ha-
vana, whence he will go to Venezuela.
Colombia. Panama and the other Centra
American republics. 1t is not definitely
settled that he will include In his timer
ary visit to Mexico City. Because of
the conditions Of disorder prevailing in
that republic It might be desirable for
MIN to avoid entering Mexico.
Mr.. Knox's trip will be similar to that
made by Elihu Root, former Secretary of
State, who, in 1906 made a circuit of
south America. Mr.. Knox, however, will
visit the countries Of Central America.
where Mr. Root did not go. The proposed
visit was announced at the White House
yesterday afternoon. following q confer
ence between the President and Mr..
Knox.
0hcial Statement.
The announcement was as follows:
"The relations Of the United States to
the Spanish republics surrounding the
Caribbean sea and the Gulf Of Mexico
are Of the utmost Importance to us, in
view OF our interests and responsibilities
In that region. The President thinks it
will be OF great assistance, in solving the
diplomatic problems that are presenting
themselves from day to day. II we mani
TEST our friendly interest IN ethese, our
neighboring republics, by visit to them
of the Secretary Of State. By creating
the closer relations. and acquiring the
more exact information that must come
from such conferences as he will be able
to have in the capitals of these republics
with the heads of their governments, he
will enable our government to deal with
existing questions much more effectively.
This will be the first time that an Ameri-
can Secretary Of State has visited these
countries.
For that reason the President has di-
rected the Secretary of the Navy to put
at the disposal of the Secretary of State
the cruiser Washington, for the purpose
of making the trip. Secretary Knox will
leave from some point in Florida within
the next two weeks, and may be gone
until the first week in April
Hopes for Good Results.
President Taft hopes that a great deal
OF good will be accomplished as a result
of Mr.. Knox's visit to the neighboring
,epublics Of the South and Central Ameri-
can countries. Following Secretary Root 8
trip five years ago commercial and politi-
cal relations between the United States
and the countries Of Central and South
America were improved. and both Presi-
dent Taft and Secretary Knox hope that
similar results will be achieved by the
forthcoming visit.
1t is expected that Mr. Knox will be
regally entertained In the foreign capi-
tails which he visits. He will proba bly,
be accompanied by several officials of
the State Department. and naval and
military aid will probably also be assign
ed to his party.