The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-03-21
American states and afterward

Mexico
It has long been the opinion of our
business men and of such of our pub
lie men as have given thought TO the
subject that the only diplomacy which
will be of value so far as our rela-
tons with Central and South America
are concerned is one which, in the
first place, will convince the peoples
of those nations that the people of
the United States will never stimulate
or approve any policy in which turks
a scheme for the capture by the Unit
ed States of any one of the nations to
the south of US. There was only one
bit of foreign soil which Mr.. Blaine
was anxious to secure. He was con-
WINGED some years before he became
secretary of state that the lower pen
insula of California was of no strate-
gic or material value to Mexico, but
could be made very valuable to the
United States if Mexico would part
with it. Negotiations were under way
while Mr.. Blaine was secretary of state
for the purchase from Mexico by the
United States of Lower California.
Whether they would ever have been
completed Mr.. Blaine himself regarded
as somewhat doubtful, since Mexico
has always been very tenacious of
such territory remained to her al
ter we acquired by purchase our Paci-
fic slope from her.
For some years now our state de-
partment has been persuaded that the
South American states, at least those
Which are now enterpriSing, energetic
and wisely administered have not the
slightest fear that the United States
will, at any time, seek to expand it's
territories toward the south.
In the next place, our diplomatic
South America should, in the opinion
of public men as well as business men,
be so conducted as to give absolute
assurance to the nations to the south
of n l& he fofo mill
nit no interference in their affairs by
any European or Oriental power. With
these two policies we'll understood,
there remains what is known as dol
lar diplomacy" 1t has already been
prolific in results. Our reports to
Argentina in the year 1912 are likely
to be of the money value of forty mill
lions. We are increasing our exports
to Brazil and, with the opening of
the Panama canal, are likely greatly
to increase our commerce with the
countries which border the Pacific
coast of South America.
Our Great Competitors.
This socalled dollar diplomacy in
wolves aiding American business men
In every commendable way so that
they may maintain fairly successful
competition with Great Britain and
with Germany, the two European ma
tions which are now making desperate
efforts to command the South Amerl-
banking and currency system which
would make it possible for exchange
upon New York or Chicago to be as
steady and unfuctuating as is ex-
change upon London, and if we were
able to establish enlarged banking ia
cilities in South America, then our
merchants and manufacturers would
possess new and powerful weapon for
use in the great industrial and COM
battle, peaceful and honorable
as it is, for supremacy in South Amer
lea.
The Central American Problem.
Within a few months after Mr..
Knox became secretary of state he
was made familiar with financial con-
ditionS which prevailed in the Central
American states He had. at that
time, a very important diplomatic
that may be properly
classified with dollar diplomacy" be-
fore him. China was to make loan
of thirty millions. From the point of
view of international loans the amount
was small, but the principle involved
doomed large. for if the United States
were to maintain the cordial relations
with China which were so finely en-
phasized at the time John w. Foster