AMERICA.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2681, 10 December 1909, Page 5

AMERICA.

A PRESIDENTIAL STATEMENT 1 .

fjNl'.RE' I’IIUSS AsBOOIATION— CorTUIGHT. NEW YORK, Dec. 8. President Taft presented a forty-page message to Congress. Referring to the Latin States in America, he said that the apprehension which gave rise to the Monroe doctrine had nearly disappeared. The doctrine should not be permitted to operate for the perpetuation of an irresponsible Government seeking to escape its just obligations. Dealing with Nicaragua, he refers to the sad tale of unspeakable barbarous oppression, alleged to have been, committed by Zelaya’s Government. Two Americans put to death by order of Zelaya himself were officers of an organised force of revolutionists which had control of half Nicaragua. President Taft believes there will be no tariff war as the result of the maximum and minimum clause 5 owing to the discretion granted to the Executive. 'He refers to the Customs frauds, boundary and fisheries negotiations with Canada, the cordial relations wfith Japan, and calls attention to the high state of American prosperity. “There is,’ 5 he stated, “every reason to believe that we are on the eve of substantial business expansion.” Radical Republicans stigmatise the message as a cold official report. Others are pleased because the message threatens little legislation. President’s Taft’s message declared that the increased cost of living was not confined to America, where the rise in prices is almost exclusively in those products of factory and farm which had not been suggested for,, an increase in the tariff, or on which was granted a very considerable reduction.