Evening star., 1927-04-26

searches for crumbs.
the world. While expressing himself
upon this he pointed out that there
are two attitudes that the press may
take which distinctly endanger our
friendly relations, either one of which,
| if it does not bring us to the verge
| of conflict, will deal an injurious blow
to our foreign trade. One is the con-
stant criticism and misrepresentation
of foreign people and the other, in
what he described as an almost
equally harmful attitude, is the other
extreme. Regarding criticism and
misinformation in connection with
people in foreign countries, the Presi-
dent said that this is unfortunate be-
cause human nature provides suffi-
cient distrust of all that is alien, so
that there is no need for any artifi-
cial supply.
The Presidents resentment was
just as strong in regard to the
press that goes to the other ex-
treme-unfair criticism and misrep-
resentation of the American govern
ment and it's principles and policies,
by malicious and misleading partisan
attacks on the conduct of this Gov
ernment in it's efforts to defend Amer
lean rights when they are threatened
or invaded in foreign countries.
Rebukes Publications.
This is not the first time the Presi-
| dent has publicly called the attention
| Of the press to it's influence for good
or evil. But in this reiteration the
| President was unmistakably voicing
| a rebuke to those newspapers and
| periodicals which have more recently
been what he considered overcritical
of this Governments policy in
Mexico, Nicaragua and China, and
which have. according to his insinu-
alton, resorted to a misrepresentation
of facts and conditions. He thinks
that an American press, because of
all the privileges it enjoys under the
| institutions of this Government, and
derives it's support from the progress
and well-being Of the people of this
| country, should be first of all thor
oughly American--it should be loyal
and should be ready to cooperate
with this Government in it's handling
| Of delicate international problems.
In this connection Mr.. Coolidge took
occasion to explain Administration
| policies regarding the difficulties with
Mexico, the hostilities in Nicaragua
and its foreign intercourse relating to
| China. In an attempt to refute the
charges of certain newspapers and
| periodicals and to defend this Govern.
ment's course, the President declared
that the United States Government
usually has been too remiss, rather
than too active, in supporting the law
full rights Of it's citizens abroad. He
added in this connection that that has
been SO long the established policy of
this Government that 1t is rather diff
cult to conceive it assuming a trucu-
lent and arrogant attitude. He pointed
out that great care is necessary to
give the public the exact facts and
| avoid the appearance OF seeming to
support the position of foreign govern
ments when this Government is pro-
ceeding with moderation. attempting
by peaceful negotiation to adjust diff.
ferences, defending the rights Of citi-
zens and maintaining national dignity.
System OF Guarantee.
In further defense of his policies,
President Coolidge reminded his audi
ence that the people of this country
live under a system that guarantees
the sancity Of life and liberty through
public order and protects the rights
of private property under due process
Of law. He explained that this Nation
has thrown every safeguard around
the individual in order to protect him
from any invasion of his rights, even
by the Government itself. These are
inalienable rights, he said, and should
belong to all persons everywhere, and
that it is the chief function of govern
ment to provide instrumentalitieS by
which these rights can be secured and
protected.
Claims Against Mexico.
In broaching the subject of his
Mexican policy, President Coolidge
stated that these principles of the
American Government, and his own
ideals, are involved in some of the diff
ficulties that his administration has
recently been having in attempting to
work out with foreign nations, espe-
cially with Mexico. Regarding Mexico,
he went on to explain how the United
States has had claims against that
republic running over a long series of
years, growing out Of the death of
many citizens of the United states
and the loss of their property.
He attributed considerable portion
Of these cases to revolutionary ac-
tivities and other forms of violence,
and went on to explain that public
order has never been entirely complete
in Mexico and that lately our diff
actment Of laws by that country,
culties have been increased by the en-
actment of laws by that country
which the United States Government
contends threaten the virtual con-
fiscation of the property OF its citizens
in Mexico, even where their holdings
are under titles which have been
established for many years. Stripped
-s.,l ax@d iv1SrA Il
discussion, this Is the main difference
which this Government has with
Mexico, he stated.
Nicaraguan Situation.
AS for Nicaragua and the course of
the United States in that troubled lit
tie republic, the President explained
that for more than a dozen years a
marine force had been kept in that
country at the earnest solicitation OF
the Nicaraguan Government, and dur
ing that time the people were peaceful
and orderly and prosperous, but al.
most at once after the marines were
withdrawn revolution was started. AS
the disorders continued it was deemed
necessary to send marines again to
protect American lives and property,
and, in his opinion, their presence
has undoubtedly prevented the larger
towns from being pillaged and con-
fined the fighting to uninhabited
areas AS for the recognition of
President DiaZ, the President eX-
planned that the former was desig-
mated by the Congress of that repub
lie and that it was in accordance with
the constitution of that country, and
for this reason the United States
gave formal recognition as did other
Central American countries
In brief explanation of Americas g
China policy, the President said first
that that country is now undergoing a
revolutionary convulsion and is
broken up in parts, each claiming to
represent a government, but none of
which has haan TapoQniZed bV the