THE TROUBLESOME BORDER
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reasonable and kindly way in which we have been treating each other for these past years, . . . there has grown up and is continually developing between the people of the two countries a knowledge of each other, an appreciation of each other, a kindly feeling toward each other which makes for the perpetuity of good government in both countries and for the development of all the finer and better parts of citizenship in both countries.
Among the friendly declarations from the Mexican side that which touches best the old distrust and the new confidence between the two countries was perhaps that of Manuel Calero, President of the Chamber of Deputies, who said: [1]
That you once wronged, that, when burning political, economical, and humane problems beset you, the course of justice was momentarily hampered, we have not forgotten; we have not. But as the years rolled on you have won back, inch by inch your place in our affection; the intercourse every day closer and closer between your people and ours, stepping over the bounds set by race and tongue, has infused new life into this feeling of mutual good will and friendship, which tend to establish harmony of ideals and close similarity of destiny.
Two years later there occurred the first exchange of visits between the Presidents of the two republics and the first visit of an American President to Mexico. At that meeting, after President Diaz had spoken of the cultivation and maintenance of the cordial relations existing. President Taft in his reply took "occasion to pronounce the hearty sentiments of friendship and accord with which the American public regard the Mexican people." He declared, "The aims and ideals of
- ↑ Ibid., p. 855.
