Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1913-11-07
NO CONQUEST BY
S,SAyS WILSON
morality Not Expediency," tho
Motive, He Tells SOuthornerS,
.F0RESEES CLOSER BONDS


terests" That Influence Attitude OF
Some Governments Towards Latin
America.
President Wilson announced to the
world in Mobile, Ala, that the govern
ing motive of the United States in its
relationships with the countries on
this hemisphere would be morality
and not expediency."
81 want TO take this occasion to
say" he declared, that the United
States will not again seek'to secure
one additional. foot of territory by con-
quest"
The president spoke before the
Southern Commercial Congress and
delivered a yeilei attack on the ma
terial interests" that Influenced the
foreign policy of some governments IN
their relations with Latin-America.
Though he did not mention Mexico,
he devoted his speech to a description
of the degrading influences which for
eign concessionaries had upon internal
affairs of Latin-American countries.
With the Mexican situation upper
most now in the presidents mind his
! address was interpreted as an arralgn-
ment Of financial influences, which, 1t
has been charged, have obtained, IN
some cases, recognition for the Fuerta
government.
He declared it would be the duty OF
the United States to assist the nations
Of this hemisphere in an "emanclpa-
ton" from "the material interests OF
other nations" so that they might en-
JOY constitutional liberty entertained.
II came here" the president said,
mot to speak for the south. because
the south has the gift OF speaking for
herself. I came here because l would
speak of our present and prospective
relations with our neighbors to the
south.
"You hear of concessions to foreign
capital in Latin-Amerlca, but you don't
hear of concessions to foreign capltal
in the United States. They are not
granted concessions. They are invited
to make investments. 1t is an invita-
ton, not a privilege.
"And states that are obliged to grant
concessions are in the condition that
foreign interests are apt to dominate
their domestic affairs. Such a condl'
tion of affairs is apt to become intoler'
able. And it is emancipation from this
inevitable subordination which we
deem it our duty to assist in.
Their self-respect, their achieve
ment in spite of these difficulties de-
serve nothing but the admiration and
applause of the world. I rejoice in
nothing so much as that they will be
emancipated and we ought to be the
first in taking part in assisting in that
emancipation"
The president digressed to point out
that the department of state recently
had "tried to serve in that wise" but
mentioned no specific instances.
"In the future he continued, "tha
nations to the south of us will draw
closer and closer to us because OF
these circumstances of which am
speaking. we must prove ourselves
their friends and champions on terms
of equality and honor. We can't BE-
fast friends on any other terms than
those of equality.
"I want to take this occasion to say,
too, that ths United States will not
again seek 20 secure one add!tlona
foot Of territory by conquest. 1t VIII
devote herself to- showing an hones
and fruitful use of the territory sh'
has and she must regard i. as one q
the duties OF friendship % see tina
from no quarter are material interes,<
made superior to human liberty an
national comfy.
"I say this merely to fix Whit GU
real relation ship should be. Il is re-
lationship of a family of mankind q"
voted to the relations from which In
man liberty springs. We have seer
material interests threaten cnnstitu.
t;onal liberty in America, SO we know
how to sympathize.
"I would rather belong to poor na'
tion that is free than a Iich nation
which has ceased to love freedom
Morality end not eypediency is the
thing that must guide US and we must
never condone iniquity."