Arbitration for determination, in what is known as "The
Pious Fund of the Californias."

THE VISIT TO MEXICO

SAN ANTONIO

SPEECH OF MR. ROOT

At a Banquet of the International Club in Honor of Mr. Root and the
Mexican Envoys, September 28, 1907

Upon his arrival in San Antonio, Texas, on his way to
Mexico, Mr. Root was met by a reception committee designated
by President Diaz, which had come to San Antonio to welcome
him and to escort him to the national capital. While in San
Antonio, Mr. Root and the Mexican Reception Committee were
the guests of the International Club of that city; and on
the evening of the day of their arrival, a banquet was
tendered them by that club. At this banquet Mr. Root made
what may be called the first address of his Mexican visit.
The opening remarks of this speech were not reported in full
in the volume entitled _El Senor Root en Mexico_, or
elsewhere; nor were the speeches of the members of the
Mexican Reception Committee. Mr. Root began by a reference
to the ideals adopted by men and by nations, declaring his
opinion that a nation has a right to exist only in so far as
it shows its ability to care for the welfare of other
nations and the relations of every man with his fellowmen.
He spoke of the rising tide of American business which is
powerfully spreading towards the south by reason of the
financial conditions in the east of the United States, every
day becoming more stringent through the volume and
accumulation of resources. After this introduction, he spoke
at some length about the Panama Canal, the construction of
which already was in its opening stage. On this subject he
said:

The Panama Canal is now an unquestionable certainty. Relations between
the United States and the different nations which are grouped around the
Caribbean Sea, are becoming every day closer. It is impossible to
anticipate at present the tonnage which will pass through that waterway,
nor can we predict the number of vessels which will be required for its
transportation; but we do already know, that never in the world has a
new and universal trade route been opened, without bringing about a
change in the history of the entire world. And it is for this reason I
feel that upon us has fallen the mission of assisting all those nations
w