Mexico Missouri message., 1914-03-26
PLAN FUTURE PEACE.
STATE DEPARTMENT SEEKS TO
PREVENT TROUBLES IN couN-
TRIES TO THE SOUTH.
TO WEIGH BARRETT'S IDEA
Government officials Are Anxious to
Arrange Some Plan Of Concerted
Action to Prevent War Among
Our Nelehbors.
BY GEORGE CLINTON.


BY GEORGE CLINTON.
Washington.--While 1t may be too
late to be of service in saving the
menacing Mexican situation, the OFF,
cials of the state department are
studying a plan by means of which 1t
may be possible to prevent troubles
OF like kind in the future. The plan
which the officials, presumably with
the sanction OF the administration,
have under study is one which was
suggested during the Roosevelt admin
istration, but to which no attention
was paid during the Taft time"
1t is possible, and it may not be
wounding 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
under control by the reports of the
sympathetic and enthusiastic recep-
tion which has been given in great
South American countries to recent
words of Theodore Roosevelt who has
been talking to the Spanish-Americans
on various economic and political sub
jects.
Recently John Barrett, director gen.
eral of the Pan-American Union, who
knows how all the diplomats of all
the South and Central American coun-
tries feel on most political subjects,
suggested that counsel be taken with
the more powerful governments to the
south of us with view to concerted
action which might have potent influ-
ence in settling the present Mexican
difficulty.
Looking to the Future.
Mr.. Barrett's suggestion of course
went far beyond the present Mexican
trouble and was intended as advice
which, If followed, might prevent such
troubles in the future. No attention
was paid to the director general for
some little time, for a man with an
idea sometimes has a hard time get
ting a hearing. II seems now, how
ever, that attention is to be paid to
what Mr.. Barrett has said and his
suggestion will be allowed to lose
nothing OF it's force with Democracy
because II happens to be kindred
suggestion to one made long while
ago by Theodore Roosevelt
Only on one occasion of any note
has the United States government
asked South and Central American
governments to use their moral sua
sion to prevent trouble among their
neighbors. A few years ago when
hostilities were threatened between
Honduras and Nicaragua, Mexico was
requested by the United States to
ask the belligerents to remember
their duty to each and to the rest of
America" Mexico, then under a DIFF
ferent leader, than 1t is today, was
proud OF the mission given into its
hands. It acted, and Honduras and
Nicaragua kissed and made up.
Last fall the Washington dispatches
told of the interest that congress was
showing in what Theodore Roosevelt
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
ians, and when he was president of
the United States, Mr.. Roosevelt sent
his secretary of state, Elihu Root, to
the Spanish-American countries 10
talk to them along lines similar to
those which he is now following him
self.
Solve Many Problems.
The matters concerning which Mr.
Roosevelt as president, and later as
| traveller, and Mr.. Root as secretary
of state. spoke to the Central and
South Americans concerned them
selves almost wholly with the Monroe
Doctrine, but afterward Mr.. Root in
correspondence with the stronger
countries of the South suggested that
! concerted action between the United
States and the countries addresse ed
might solve many problems and keeI
| the peace when war was threatened
The Roosevelt-Root suggestion was
known as the monitor nation" plan
and the matter was thoroughly dis
cussed with representatives of the
stable Latin-American countries.
Under the Taft administration, this
monitor nation" plan was forgotten
! At no time during the trouble with
Mexico has there been shown any dis
| position on the part of the admins
tration or the state department tc
ask Brazil, Argentine, Chile or any
other South American country to aiC
the United States in it's attempts tC
straighten out things in Mexico
John Barrett's suggestion OF somC
little time ago was ignored at first, bu
now 1t is likely to receive attention
It is possible that the government of
ficials may find some means to make
II OF service at the present time
They are extraordinarily anxious L
find way out of the Mexican trou
BILE without Intervention, and it is con
ceivable that out OF the director gen
erals office in the Pan-American build
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