New-York tribune., 1912-04-04
TELLS HAYT|. TO BEHAVE
Knox Advises Negroes How to
Obtain Prosperity.
NOT BY MNVASIVE ACTIVITY"
Maintenance of Peace in Central
America of First Importance
to U. s., Says Secretary.

Port-su-Prince, Hayti, April T. - Secre-
tary Knox to-day visited the country
which gave birth to LOuverture, Dessa-
lines and Christophe. the three great negro
revolutionists of Hayti, ard at the Presi-
dental dinner tonight he advised the
present day negro republicans how to OBJ
tain prosperity through internal peace and
international good behavior.
The Secretary OF State said that the in
innate relations between the United States
and the Republic of Hayt could be ex-
panded mot through invasive activity on
your part. but through the self-develop-
ment of your resources under the benevo-
lent sway of peace"
The Dominican Republic complains that
Hayti is assisting the Dominican rebels,
and apparently the Secretary of State
hopes to stop this and also to bring In
fuence to bear on Hayti to ratify the pro-
tocol, referring tho border dispute to
The Hague. The United States initiated
the protocol. which the government of the
Dominican Republic is prepared to sign,
but the acceptance of which is delayed by
the Haytien government
President Leconte extended cordial well
come to the Secretary of State, who viii
sail tomorrow for Guantanamo, Cuba.
Guatemala City, Guatemala, March 10
Guatemala has not been especially pune
tilious in observing its obligations under
the Central American peace pact OF 1901,
and only recently Salvador had occasion TO
complain and invite the good offices of the
American State Department TO secure her
territorial rights against Guatemaan ag-
gression.
Mr.. Knox evidently had this in mind
when he delivered his formal address at the
Presidents dinner tonight It must have
required courage, after the klngly style In
which he had been entertained and sur
rounded by men who appeared TO draw
their breath by sufferance of their host, for
the Secretary TO stand up and declare in
language that could not be misunderstood
that the strict adherence Of Guatemala 10
the Washington conventions was INSOFAR
able from any hope of future prosperity,
advancement and peace.
The Secretary said in part:
Guatemala in its position OF close prox-
unity to the United States, where there Is
ever ready an eager market for its prod
ucts, and with Its dense population, occu-
pies indeed an enviable position among the
Central American nations. This position
will be rendered increasingly desirable as
time goes on and the development OF your
country's enormous possibilities Is accom-
plished. And Mr.. President, / may here re-
mark. without, I am sure. indulgtng any
view not equally shared by yourself, that
the continuous development and permanent
advancement Of the republic depend on its
stable economic conditions az we'll as upon
its domestic cohtentment and consequent
repose.
The unvarying friendship Of the gov
ernment Of the United States for repub-
lican institutions in this hemisphere and
It's desire to see them conserved free from
Interference are too well known and un-
derstood 10 need words Of reinsurance
from me. From the very inception OF
and even before the independence of the
Latin American nations the attitude OF
the American government. which later
was Enthusiastically announced by Presi-
dent Monroe, was well known and it con-
tinues undiminiShed TO the present day.
In Central America the United States
has special interest not only because
Of the proximity of the five republics to
tho great commercial highway now near
Ing completion In Panama, but also be-
cause Of its moral obligations under the
Washington conventions The lnainte-
nance Of peace and stable conditions in
these republics Is a matter of first i'm
portance 10 my government. Tho faith
ful observance of those conventions will.
In the opinion Of my government, go far
toward the elimination Of the turmoil
that has hitherto shaken the very foun-
dations OF some of the less fortunate and
less tranquil countries
An editor OF local paper. asked IL the
government censorship was severe, replied:
NO. there is no censorship. It is unneces-
sary. The editors understand perfectly
what the government wishes published or
not published"