The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1913-03-15
PEACE AND GOOD WILL.
WILSON'S POLICY TOWARD LAT
lN-AMERICAN REPUBLICS.
President Issues Formal Statement
Defining Attitude OF His Admins
tratiOn Toward SOCth and Central
American COuntrieS-Desires "the
Most Cordial Understanding and
Cooperation"

washington, March 11.-President
Wilson today issued this formal state
ment of his policy toward the Central
and South American Republics:
In view of questions which are
naturally uppermost in the public
mind just now the President issues
the following statement:
'One of the chief objects Of my
administration will be to cultivate
the friendship and deserve the conf
dence OF our sister Republics of Cen
tral and South America and to pro-
mote in every proper and honorable
way the interests which are COM
mon to the peoples of the two conti-
nents. / earnestly desire the most
cordial understanding and cooper
alton between the peoples and lead
ers of America and therefore deem it
my duty to make this brief state
ment.
"Co-operation is possible only when
supported at every turn by the order
ly process of just government based
upon law, not upon arbitrary or ir-
regular force. We hold, as / am sure
all thoughtful leaders of republic gov
ernment everywhere do, that Just gov
ernment tests always upon the con-
sent of tn. governed and that there
can he no freedom without order
based upon law and upon the public
conscience and approval. We shall
look to make these principles the ba-
sis of mutual intercourse respect and
helpfulness between our sister Re-
publicS and ourselves. We shall lend
our influence of every kind TO the real
ization of these principles in fact and
practice, knowing that disorder, per-
SOnal intrigue and defiance of conSti-
tutional 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 so tainted and
disturbed.
We can have no sympathy with
those who seek to seize the power of
government to advance their own
personal interests 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 interest of peace
and honor, who protect private rights
and respect the restraints Of consti-
tutional provision. Mutual respect
seems to us the indispensable founda-
ton 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 peo-
curity of governments intended for
the people and for no special group or
interests. and the development of per-
sOnal and trade relationships between
the two continents, which shall re-
dound To the profit and advantage OF
both and interfere with the rights and
liberties of neither.
From these principles may be read
SO much of the future policy of this
Government as il is necessary now to
forecast; and in the spirit of these
principles ! may, l hope, be permit
ted, with aS much confidence IA
carneStncSS, to extend Ia the govern
ments of all the republics of America
the hand of genuine diSintereSted
friendship and to pledge my own hon
or and the honor of my colleagues to
every enterprise Of peace and amity
that Il fortunate future may disclose"
The President read the above state
mcnt to the Cabinet today. At tho
White House il was diSClaimed that
the statement WAS aimed at any par
uCular country. 1t was declared that
il would Ice sent to tho diplomatic
representatives 81 the United States in
all Central and south American coun-
tries alike.