State of the Union AddressesTaft, William H. (William Howard)
History
State of the Union Addresses
Taft, William H. (William Howard)
Presidents -- United States -- Messages; United States -- Politics and government -- Sources
To-day, more than ever before, American capital is seeking investment in
foreign countries, and American products are more and more generally
seeking foreign markets. As a consequence, in all countries there are
American citizens and American interests to be protected, on occasion, by
their Government. These movements of men, of capital, and of commodities
bring peoples and governments closer together and so form bonds of peace
and mutual dependency, as they must also naturally sometimes make passing
points of friction. The resultant situation inevitably imposes upon this
Government vastly increased responsibilities. This Administration, through
the Department of State and the foreign service, is lending all proper
support to legitimate and beneficial American enterprises in foreign
countries, the degree of such support being measured by the national
advantages to be expected. A citizen himself can not by contract or
otherwise divest himself of the right, nor can this Government escape the
obligation, of his protection in his personal and property rights when
these are unjustly infringed in a foreign country. To avoid ceaseless
vexations it is proper that in considering whether American enterprise
should be encouraged or supported in a particular country, the Government
should give full weight not only to the national, as opposed to the
individual benefits to accrue, but also to the fact whether or not the
Government of the country in question is in its administration and in its
diplomacy faithful to the principles of moderation, equity and justice upon
which alone depend international credit, in diplomacy as well as in
finance.
The Pan-American policy of this Government has long been fixed in its
principles and remains unchanged. With the changed circumstances of the
United States and of the Republics to the south of us, most of which have
great natural resources, stable government and progressive ideals, the
apprehension which gave rise to the Monroe Doctrine may be said to have
nearly disappeared, and neither the doctrine as it exists nor any other
doctrine of American policy should be permitted to operate for the
perpetuation of irresponsible government, the escape of just obligations,
or the insidious allegation of dominating ambitions on the part of the
United States.
Beside the fundamental doctrines of our Pan-American policy there have
grown up a realization of political interests, community of institutions
and ideals, and a flourishing commerce. All these bonds will be greatly
strengthened as time goes on and increased facilities, such as the great
bank soon to be established in Latin America, supply the means for building
up the colossal intercontinental commerce of the future.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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