Reply of Mr. Knox.
Mr. Minister: In the name of my Government and my fellow citizens I thank you for your cordial hospitality and friendly reception.
It is with sincere regret, Mr. Minister, that I am forced, through circumstances over which neither of us has any control, to forego the pleasure of visiting the capital city of Honduras, which I had hoped to be able to accomplish but which I found to be impossible within the limited time at my disposal. Much as I should have enjoyed the beauties of the journey to the capital over the rugged face [Page 628] of nature, it is nevertheless a great pleasure to meet you here and have the advantage of your personal acquaintance.
The importance of the geographic position of Honduras, which borders on three of the other Republics of Central America, has long been recognized, and experience has shown that most of the unrest that has disturbed Central America, and particularly Honduras, has been due to the fact that Honduras lies conveniently in the track of any armies of other contending Central American states and it has been impossible for Honduras to resist their passage without itself becoming engaged in the quarrel on one side or the other. So much has the Republic of Honduras suffered in this regard and so often has the peace of Central America been easily disturbed, owing to the exposed position of this country, that when the Central American Peace Conference met in Washington in 1907, under the auspices of the United States and Mexico, an article was incorporated in one of the conventions there signed whereby all the other powers concerned pledged themselves to respect the neutrality of Honduras. The importance and wisdom of the provision has been fully demonstrated, and an eloquent testimonial as to its practical value is that since the adoption of these conventions, although other of its provisions may have been disregarded, there has been no international war in Central America.
Probably one of the most important matters to be considered by the Honduran Government is how to make this guaranty, which is all important to the peace of Central America, still more effective and permanent. It is manifest that it is only as strong as the stability of the country and the good will of its neighbors combined, and that the surest means of insuring its continued respect and resultant benefits is to assure the stability of the Government of Honduras itself and thereby to permit the development of its wonderful store of natural resources.
Possessed, as it is, of a fertile soil and healthful climate, as well as of probably the best natural harbor between San Diego, California, and Concepcion, Chile, the development of Honduras would seem to be a matter which it should require but a short time to accomplish. In Honduras, all the elements of great national prosperity are but awaiting development. The great needs of the country, so great in natural wealth, are facilities of transportation, which will at once stimulate foreign and domestic commerce, and an economic administration.
Central American tranquillity and security have from the first been matters of the deepest concern to the United States, and repose in Honduras, which will always be the key to Central American peace, has ever awakened the keenest interest among Americans. When the transcontinental railroad from the Atlantic to the Pacific was first undertaken the sovereignty of Honduras over the railroad was guaranteed by the United States, and my Government has always stood ready to assist in any proper manner the preservation of order and the promotion of peace in this country. The Marble-head treaty, the convocation of the Central American Peace Conference in Washington, and the part played by my Government in the Peace Conference at Puerto Cortes in February, 1912, are all eloquent testimonials of our good will toward Honduras.
[Page 629]It is the desire of my Government to perpetuate upon the foundations of closer friendship and acquaintance the good will we have received from the past, to promote our common interests by developing a better mutual understanding, and to frown down any and every attempt to disturb by calumny and baseless suspicion the peaceful and friendly relations between the United States and Honduras.