Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1912-12-05
The President Starts With Discussion of Foreign Relations
Work Done by Dip lomats- Recognition of Merit Sys-
tenn Has Proven BenefcaEDscusses Turkish War
and Troubles in China

lations between the Argentine Repubi.
and Bolivia. The diplomacy of the
United States is active in seeking TO
assuage the remaining i'll feeling be-
tween this country and the republic of
Colombia. In the recent civil war in
China the United States successfully
Joined with the other interested powers
In urging an early cessation of hostili.
ties. An agreement has been reached
between the governments of Chile and
Peru whereby the celebrated Tacna
africa dispute. which has so long en-
bittered international relations on the
west coast Of South America, has at
last been adjusted. simultaneously
came the news that the boundary dis
pute between Peru and Ecuador had
entered upon q stage of amicable set
tlement
China.
In China the policy of encouraging
country to help itself has had The result
of giving new life and practical appn
cation to the open door policy. The
consistent purpose OF the present ad
ministration has been to encourage the
use of American capital in the deveIop
ment of China by the promotion Of
those essential reforms to which China
is pledged by treaties with the United
States and other powers.
The hypothecation 10 foreign banker
In connection with certain Industrial
enterprises, such as the Hukuang rail
ways, of the national revenues upon
which these reforms depended, led the
department Of state early in the admin.
istratlon to demand for American ciH-
zens participation in such enterprise.
In order that the United States might
have equal rights and an equal voice iB
all que stions pertaining to the dispost
ton or the public revenues concerned
The same policy of promoting inter
national accord among the powers hav-
ing similar treaty rights as ourselves in
the matters of reform. which could not
be put into practical effect without the
common consent Of all, was likewise
adopted in the case of the loan desired
by China for the reform of its cur
rency. The principle of internatiouai
cooperation in matters Of common in
terest upon which our policy had al.
ready been based in all of the above in
stances has admittedly been a great
factor in that concert Of the powers
which has been so happily conspicuous
during the perilous period of transition
through which the great Chinese nation
has been passing
Central America Needs Our Help In
Debt Adjustment.
In Central America the aim has been
to help such countries as Nicaragua
and Honduras to help themselves. They
are the immediate beneficiaries The
national benefit to the United States is
twofold. First, It is obvious that the
Monroe doctrine is more vital in the
neighborhood Of the Panama canal and
the zone Of the Caribbean than any
where else. There, too. the mainte.
nance of that doctrine falls most heav-
lily upon the United States. 1t is there
fore essential that the countries within
that sphere shall be removed from the
jeopardy involved by heavy foreign
debt and chaotic national finances and
from the ever present danger of inter
national complications due to disorder
at home.
Hence the United States has been
glad to encourage and support Ameri
can bankers who were willing to lend
helping hand to the financial re-
habihtation of such countries because
this financial rehabilitation and the
protection OF their custom houses from
being the prey Of would be dictators
would remove at one stroke the men
ace Of foreign creditors and the men
ace of revolutionary disorder.
/ wish to call your especial attention
to the recent occurrences in Nicaragua.
for | believe the terrible events re-
corded there during the revolution Of
the past summer-the useless loss of
life, the devastation of property, the
bombardment OF defenseless cities. the
killing and wounding of women and
children, the torturing OF noncombat.
ants to exact contributions and the
suffering of thousands of human be.
ings-mlght have been averted had the
department of state. through approval
Of the loan convention by the senate
been permitted to carry out its now
well developed policy of encouraging
the extending OF financial aid to weak
Central American states with the pri
mary objects Of avoiding just such
revolutions by assisting those repub-
lies to rehabilitate their finances. TO
establish their currency on a stable
basis, to remove the custom houses
from the danger Of revolutions by ar
ranging for their secure administra-
tion, and to establish reliable banks.
wish to congra tulate the officers
and men OF the United States navy and