Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1913-11-14
Wilson's Aim To Uufetter Mexico.

nected with the Mexican situation, PreSl-
dent Woodrow Wilson delivered speech
at Mobile, Ala, recently which appeared
to be freighted with significance, and
which served to point with further direct
ness the policy of the United States not
only toward Mexico. but toward all Central
and South American Republics.
President Wilson spoke before the South
ern Commercial Congress, and the big audi
ence which heard him constantly was
swept with cheers and applause. He said ::
But today do not need to speak of
the South. She has perhaps acquired the
gift of speaking for herself come be-
cause want to speak of our present and
prospective relations with our neighbors to
the south. deemed it public duty as
well as personal pleasure to be here to
express for myself and for the Government
| represent the welcome we all feel to
those who represent the Latin-American
states. The future, ladies and gentlemen.
is going to be very different for this hem
isphere from the past The States lying
to the South of us, which have always
been our neighbors, will now be drawn
closer to us by innumerable ties. and,
hope, chief of all by the tie of common
understanding to each other
Interest does not tie nations together.
1t sometimes separates them but sympa-
thy and understanding do unite them.
And believe that by the new route that
is just about to be opened, while we phys
ically cut two continents asunder, we spir-
itually unite them. 1t is spiritual union
which we seek wonder if you realize,
wonder if your imaeinations have been
filled, with the significance of the tides of
commerce.
These great tides, which have been
running along parallels of latitude, will
now swing southwark athwart parallels
of ATTITUDES and that opening gate at the
Isthmus of Panama will open the world
to a commerce that she has not known be-
fore-a commerce of intelligence. of thought
and sympathy between North and South;
and the Latin-American States, which, to
their disadvantage. have been off the main
lines, will now be on the main lines. feel
that these gentlemen hOnOring us with
their presence today will presently find
that some part. at any rate. of the centre
of gravity of the world has shifted. Do
you realize that New York for example. will
be nearer the western coast of South
America than she is now to the eastern
coast of South America
There is one popularity about the his
tory of the Latin-American States which,
am sure. they are keenly aware of.
You hear Of concessions to foreign CAPT
talists in Latin America. You do not
hear Of concessions to foreign capital
lists in the United States. They are not
granted concessions. They are invited to
make investments. The work is ours.
though they are welcome to invest in it.
We do not ask them to supply the capital
and do the work. II is an invitation, not
privilege and States that are Obliged,
because their territory does not lie within
the main field of modern enterprise and
action. TO grant concessions are in this
condition; That foreign interests are apt
to dominate their domestic affairs, con-
dtion of affairs always dangerous and apt
to become intolerabe
What these States are going to seek,
therefore, is an emancipation from the
| otahn in n xuhi OIL Ia
to foreign enterprise and an assertion of
the splendid character which, in spite of
these difficulties, they have again been
able to demonstrate. The dignity the
courage, the self-possession. the respect Of
the Latin American States, their achieve
ments in the face of all these adverse cir
cumstances. deserve nothing but the admi-
ration and applause of the world They
have had harder bargains driven with them
in the matter of loans than any other peo-
pie in the world. Interest has been ex-
acted of them that was not exacted of
anybody. because the risk was said to he
greater, and then securities were taken
that destroyed the risks. An admirable
arrangement, for those who were forcing
the terms
Il rejoice in nothing so much as in the
prospect that they will now be emanci-
pated from these conditions and we ought
to be the first to take part in assisting in
that emancipation. think some of these
gentlemen have already had occasion to
bear witness that the Department of State
in recent months has tried to serve them
in that wise. In the future they will draw
closer and closer to US because of circum-
stances Of which | wish to speak. with
moderation and, hope, without indiscre-
ton.
I'VE must prove ourselves their friends
and champions. upon terms Of equality and
honor. You cannot be friends upon any
other terms than upon the terms Of equal
ity. You cannot be friends at ALL except
upon the terms Of honor, and We must
show ourselves friends by cOmprehending
their interest, whether it squares with our
interest or not.
1T is very perilous thing to determine
the foreign policy Of nation in the terms
Of material interest. 1t not only is unfair
to those with whom you are dealing, but
1t is degrading on the part Of your own
actions
Comprehension must be the soil in
which shall grow all the fruits Of friend
ship, because there is a reason and a com
pulsion lying behind all this which is dearer
than anything else to the thoughtful men
of America. mean the development Of
constitutional liberty in the world. Human
rights, national integrity and opportunity
as against material interests That, ladies'
and Gentlemen, is the issue which we now
have 10 face.
II want to take this occasion to say that