260 Presidential Addresses 



fied by the Senate. It reserves all of Colombia's 

 rights, while guaranteeing all of our own and those 

 of neutral nations, and specifically permits us to 

 take any and all measures for the defence of the 

 canal, and for the preservation of our interests, 

 whenever in our judgment an exigency may arise 

 which calls for action on our part. In other words, 

 these two treaties, and the legislation to carry them 

 out, have resulted in our obtaining on exactly the 

 terms we desired the rights and privileges which we 

 had so long sought in vain. These treaties are 

 among the most important that we have ever nego 

 tiated in their effects upon the future welfare of this 

 country, and mark a memorable triumph of Ameri 

 can diplomacy one of those fortunate triumphs, 

 moreover, which redound to the benefit of the en 

 tire world. 



About the same time trouble arose in connection 

 with the Republic of Venezuela because of certain 

 wrongs alleged to have been committed, and debts 

 overdue, by this Republic to citizens of various for 

 eign powers, notably England, Germany, and Italy. 

 After failure to reach an agreement these powers 

 began a blockade of the Venezuelan coast and a con 

 dition of quasi-war ensued. The concern of our 

 Government was of course not to interfere needless 

 ly in any quarrel so far as it did not touch our in 

 terests or our honor, and not to take the attitude of 

 protecting from coercion any power unless we were 

 willing to espouse the quarrel of that power, but to 

 keep an attitude of watchful vigilance and see that 



