The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1914-03-28
lL.5A FUTURE PEACE
fATE DEPARTMENT SEEKS TO
PREVENT TROUBLES IN coUN-
TRIES TO THE SOUTH.
WEIGH BARRETT'S IDEA
,vernment OfsiciaIs Are Anxious to
Arrange Some Plan Of Concerted
Action to Prevent War Among
Our Neighbors.
BY GEORGE CLINTON.

Al BY GEORGE CLINTON.
"a ashington.-While 1t may be too
IA tte to be of service in saving the
4 ,ienacing Mexican situation, the Off
ials Of the state department are
tudying a plan by means OF which 1t
|, pay be possible to prevent troubles
II like kind in the future. The plan
1hich the officials, presumably with
he sanction of the administration,
tave under study is one which was
3uggested during the Roosevelt admin
|, jstration, but to which no attention
hgas paid during the Taft time"
,gE II is possible, and 1t may not be
svounding to Democratic pride to say
1t is probable, that the Washington
officials have been spurred to the
Study Of the new means Of keeping
turbulent Spanish-American Republics
hnder control by the reports Of the
5ympathetic and enthusiastic recep-
ZION which has been given In great
South American countries to recent
words Of Theodore Roosevelt who has
been talking to the Spanish-Americans
1bn various economic and political sub
Hects.
~ Recently John Barrett, director gen.
<sral Of the Pan-American Union, who
Knows how all the diplomats OF all
the South and Central American coun-
FRIES feel on most political subjects.
suggested that counsel be taken with
<tbe more powerful governments to the
4south of US with view to concerted
Z action which might have potent infiu-
: fence in settling the present Mexican
xdiniculty.
III Looking to the Future.
IA Mr.. Barrett's suggestion Of course
3went far beyond the present Mexican
trouble and was intended as advice
which. II followed, might prevent such
Il troubles in the future. No attention
Is was paid to the director general for
some little time, for a man with an
idea sometimes has a hard time get,
ID ting a hearing. 1t seems now. how
ever, that attention Is to be paid to
1 what Mr.. Barrett has said and his
suggestion will be allowed to lose
IA nothing of its force with Democracy
because 1t happens to be a kindred
i suggestion to one made long while
A ago by Theodore Roosevelt.
Il Only on one occasion of any note
has the United States government
1 asked South and Central American
a governments to use their moral sua-
il sion to prevent trouble among their
neighbors. A few years ago when
Il hostilities were threatened between
Honduras and Nicaragua, Mexico was
q requested by the United States to
ask the belligerents to remember
4 their duty to each and to the rest OF
4 America" Mexico. then under a diff.
X ferent leader. than 1t Is today. was
proud Of the mission given into its
4 hands. It acted. and Honduras and
n Nicaragua kissed and made up
Last fall the Washington dispatches
Z told of the interest that congress waa
d showing In what Theodore Roosevelt,
Z said at Rio de Janeiro concerning the
participation Of Central and South
American countries In the work Of
. carrying out the Monroe doctrine
Long before he talked to the Brazil
fans, and when he was president Of
the United States. Mr.. Roosevelt sent
, his secretary Of state, Elihu Root. tc
the Spanish-American countries tc
ak to them along lines similar tc
those which he il nov following him
self
Solve Many Problems.
The matters concerning which Mr.
Roosevelt as president, and later a,
traveller, and Mr.. Root as secretary
Of state. spoke to the Central an(
South Americans concerned them
selves almost wholly with the Monro,
Doctrine. but afterward Mr.. Root II
correspondence with the stronger
countries of the South suggested tina
concerted action between the United
States and the countries addresse,
might solve many problems and keel
the peace when war was threatened
The Roosevelt-Root suggestion wa
known as the monitor nation" plal
and the matter was thoroughly dis
cussed with representatives OF tn
stable Latin.American countries.
Under the Taft administration, thi
monitor nation" plan was forgotten
Al no time during the trouble wit
Mexico has there been shown any dis
position on the part Of the admins
tration or the state department t
ask Brazil. Argentine. Chile or an
other South American country to al
the United States in its attempts t
straighten out things In Mexico.
John Barretts suggestion OF som
little time ago was ignored at first, b.
now II is likely to receive attention
It is possible that the government o
ficials may find some means to max
It Of service at the present tim
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