The Washington herald., 1916-04-24
Our Mexican Policy and Latin-American
Business.

l. great deal has been said and written of
late about what we should do to get an increased
business in Central and South America. Much
academic and some practical reasoning has been
lndulged IN by public speaking and magazine
wrters' societies have been formed advertising
mas been resorted to and sundry steps taken to
sell American products in the countries to the
south OF us. Little has been said or written
ABOUT What seems to be the first and most I'M
PortSnt steP-one tar-reaching in its influences.
refer to the act of the present administration
cans through our Mexican policy. '''''' N'' :
, 1t IS well known among those familiar with
central and South American conditions that the
United States has been looked upon with Jealous
suspicion. We are large and so powerful
that they have feared domination No mat
ter what state authorities may have said in
public documents it has remained true that Nd
to recent date a large majority of intelligent
LATIN -Amerlcan people have felt that the people
OF the United States with a singleness OF pur-
pose IN chasing the mighty dollar were anxious
to so encircle the little countries to the south of
us that we might use their resources to fatten
nently practical people and in that respect as
differing from the old Castan idea Of chivalry
and honor. We know that they are mistaken in
tins and that the ethical code of the American
business man is equal to that of any other in
the world but our visits to Latin America and
our public statements have had little effect. When
we TOOK Cuba they were certain that ex-
pected to retain and milk it, and when we gave
II back to the Cuban people they were surprised
and mystihed. When we took Panama and de-
ch9ed to pay for it they turned to each other
and nodding their heads said: "Ah! | told YOU
So This is the true policy Of the United States
Let us take care that our independence is pre-
served against them"
When one people fear and dislike another it
is difficult for them to cultivate either business
or social relations. American countries were
always glad to get United States money for in
vestment in their country but other things be-
ing equal they preferred foreign capital Ameri-
can investors showed great anxiety to 90 into
countries where the people. were more or less
hostile so that except in mines and few other
special enterprises no investments large
scale were practiced. About three years ago the
policy Of the Unite States in regard to Mexico
began to attract the attention of our neighbors
They have been watchfully waiting, expecting us
to take advantage OF Mexican weakness and help
lessness to draw the country under control That
we have not done this has puzzled them and they
are now beginning to look at in new light
"a condition which promises to do more than
anything else for the industrial prosperity and
peace of all the Americas.
During the recent Pan-American Scientific
Congress held in Washington | spent one week
las delegate, reading paper on a scientific
subject. and mixing with the people My chief
aim was to hnd out what they really thought
about us, and in expressing the sentiment of
Senior Francisco Peynado of the Dominican Re-
public | believe that | am giving the true feel
ing OF most OF the delegates from these coun-
tries. Senior Peynado is man of great inteli-
gcnce, eminent international lawyer, COM
mended such by John Bassett Moore He
said to me that there never had been time
ward the United States was so cordial as at
present and that this due mainly to our
policy in regard to Mexico He said that they
knew that we had Mexico in our power that it
was directly in line with what was generally sup
posed to be our ambition namely, to get control
of all states far at least as the Panama
Canal They knew that would have no diff
fcuty in taking Mexico if we wanted to- and at
first they thought had some motive in post
poning the day. but after three years they were
becoming convinced that the United States really
did not seek Latn-American territory; that we
were friends and not enemies; that our co-opera-
ton with them in an effort to settle Mexican
affairs showed a spirit which they had no idea
that possessed-one which if continued and
established would go further than anything else
to unite all the Americas. Words and promises
could not be expected to go far as actual deeds
in matter of such importance. That what we
had done, and what we had left undonc was
beginning to take root, and that it was likely to
result in a fruitful harvest.
What can be more important than this? 1t
makes for prosperity during peace and for mutual
protection and strength against invasion. Any
other course in regard to Mexico than that which
has been followed might have resulted in either
retaining or intensfying the old feeling OF sus-
picon among our neghbors. Posterity alone will
prove either that the policy of the administration
toward Mexico has been of weakness or of
far-reaching wisdom and mportance-W L.
Saunders, in The Americas
No Bear-Pits in School Buildings.
If b,I5 l. IL