The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-03-12
Wilson Issues Formal State
ment of Policy Toward
Adjoining Countries
NO SYMPATHY FOR
PERSONAL AMBITION
New President Reads Statement to
the Cabinet-Friends of Peace,
But Peace Under Stable
Conditions

Washington. March n.-President Will
! son today issued this formal statement
Of his policy toward the Central and
South American republics;
I'm view of questions which are natu-
rally uppermost n the public mind just
now the President issues the following
statement:
sOne of the chief objects of my ad-
ministration will be to cultivate the friend
ship and deserve the confidence of our
sister republics of Central and South
America and to promote in every proper
and honorable way the interests which
are common to the people of the two
continents. I earnestly desire the most
cordial understanding and cooperation
between the peoples and leaders of Amer
lea and, therefore, deem it my duty to
make this brief statement.
'sCo-operation is possible only when
supported at every turn by the orderly
processes of Just government based upon
law, not upon arbitrary or IRREGULAR
force. We hold, as am sure. all thought
full leaders OF republican government
everywhere do. that just government rests
always upon the consent of the gov
erned and that there can be no freedom
without order based upon law and upon
the public conscience and approval. We
shall look to make these principles the
basis of mutual intercourse, respect and
helpfulness between our sister republics
and ourselves. We shall lend our infiu-
~
these principles In fact and practice,
knowing that disorder personal intrigue
and personal defiance of constitutional
rights weaken and discredit government
and injure none so much as the people
who are unfortunate enough to have their
common life and their common affairs
20 tainted and disturbed.
No Sympathy for Personal Interest
We can have no sympathy with those
who seek to seize the power of govern
ment to advance their own personal in
tefests or ambition. We are the friends
of peace, but we know that there can
be no lasting or stable peace in such
circumstances. AS friends, therefore, we
shall prefer those who act in the in
terest of peace and honor, who protect
private Fights and respect the restraints
of constitutional provision. Mutual re-
spect seems to US the Indispensable foun-
dation of friendship between states. as
between individuals.
THE United States has nothing to seek
In Central and South America, except
the lasting interests of the peoples OF
the two continents, the security of gov
ernments intended for the people and for
no special group or interest and the de-
veopment of, personal and trade rela-
flpnS1ing n.
which shall rebound TO the profit and
advantage of both ard interfere with the
rights and libertes OF nei.hcr.
From these prlncsreA ssai may read SO
much of the futufr peistf ~ lis gov
ernment as II is nea#s<,sfy laop % fore
cast: and in the sftfif 20 itese prin-
ciples. l may. ] hops l1e srn-l ed with
as much confidence as earnestness, to
extend to the governments of all the
republics of America the hand of gen.
uine dsinterested friendship and to pledge
my own honor and the honor of my col
leagues to every enterprise of peace and
amity that a fortunate future may dis
close"
Reads Statement to Cabinet
The President took the above statement
to the cabinet meeting today He read it
to the cabinet. which was in session
for two hours, and issued it shortly
afterward to the press.
At the White House it was disclaimed
that the statement was aimed at any
particular country. 1t was declared that
II would be sent to the diplomatic rep
resentatives of the United States in all
Central and South American countries
alike.
While most of the countries in the
western hemisphere are enjoying domes-
tic as we'll as international peace state
department officials have exercised a close
watch on events in Mexico. Guatemala,
Nicaragua, Honduras, San Domingo, Gu
ba and Salvador.
While the Mexican situation was be-
coming more and more acute in the clos
Ing days of the last administration, re-
ports were received at the department
from it's various agencies in Central
America that gave much concern to the
officials, indicating as they did the exist
ence of general spirit of unrest. and
of embryonic revolutionary activity in
many quarters.
In Salvador, where a long period OF
peace had preceded the assassination of
President Araujo by band of conspira-
tors, believed to have been the prelimi-
nary movement in revolution startled
the whole of Central America Charges
were made that this revolution had been
fomented from outside in Guatemala In
that same country there were hints of
trouble Then came reports from New
Orleans that combination was being eff
fected between the Zelayistas and dis
contented elements in Honduras. looking
to double revolutions, first in Honduras
and later in Nicaragua. Costa Rica ap-
peared to be the only peaceful spot on
the Central American map.
The, general tenor of the official re-
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