Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-03-25
SENATE GETS COPY
OF PAGES SPEECH
Now Famous London Address
Transmitted by Mr.. Bryan
Without Comment.

Ambassador Walter H. Pages cele-
brated London speech. in which he
was accredited with having Interpreted
United States preferred that no Euro
pean governments should gain more
land in the new world, and as having
made certain references to the repeal
of the Panama tolls exemption, was
forwarded to the Senate today by Sec
retary Bryan, in response to Senator
Chamberlain's resolution calling for
an explanation.
Secretary Bryan transmitted the copy
Of Ambassador Pages speech without
any comment whatever. and it was
read in full to the Senate and referred
to the foreign relations committee
without debate.
length, was furnished in full to the Sen
ate The portion relating to the Panama
canal was as follows:
Pleasure in Building Canal.
Il will not say that we constructed
the Panama canal even for you. For l
am speaking with great frankness and
not with diplomatic indirection. We built
it for reasons of our own. But 7 will
say that it adds to the pleasure of build
ing that great work that you will profit
by it. You will profit most by it for you
have the greatest carrying trade. l can
say similar thing about the recent low
ering of our tariff. We did not lower it
in order to please you. 1t was for pur-
poses that we considered economically
sound for ourselves.
Nevertheless; it added to the pleasure
of doing that to reflect that thereby
we should have more trade with you.
President, take it upon myself, on
my own responsibility. to say this: He
delivered that message not to please
you. but to express the true sentiment
and self-respect. of the American nation.
AS interpret it, his was the voice of the
people. Nevertheless, it adds to the
pleasure of hearing that voice to know
it does please you
Explains Monroe Doctrine.
doctrine follows:
May l put in another parenthesis, also
on my own account. and correct an i'm
preston that a part OF your press seems
to have about the attitude of the United
States government concerning the invest
ment of your colossal earnings in states
OF Central America that have volcanic
tendencies? l sometimes read that the
United States Is entering upon a policy
to discourage foreign investments there.
That is untrue. I think that some events
are happening there that have discour-
aged them somewhat, but I hope that
they cannot be charged to the United
States.
There is policy forming in the minds
of our government and our people which
is not new that would discourage such
investments or such concessions as would
carry with them the control of the gov
ernment of any of those states and only
such, for. SO far as the United States is
concerned, you know how heartily we
have welcomed your investments in our
land and still welcome them and always
will You may be assured that it is
none of the business of the United States
to put any let or hndrance upon any le-
gitimate investments of yours anywhere
in the world. and they most heartily well
come your investments in any part of the
Americas, provided only you do not make
them SO that you may possibly take the
country with them.
THE Monroe doctrine meant this. when
it was first formulated, that the United
States would object to any European gov
ernment's taking more land in the new
world. In those days the only way that
"A foreign government could gain land was
literally to go and take it. Now we have
more refined methods of exploitation. and
there are other ways to take it. That is