states shall not be allowed to extend their control to the American republics be overthrown or abandoned, Mexico would not improbably be one of the first of the new world countries to suffer. The United States is the chief defender of the policy from which Mexico has already, in one instance, profited in a striking manner and by which her independence has now for a century been rendered more secure. Finally, a policy of enmity toward the United States would of itself endanger Mexican independence.
In considering the importance of Mexican-American relations from the point of view of the United States the economic motives are less important in themselves than the consequences that might follow the lack of good understanding. The Mexican import and export trade is of great and growing importance to the United States, as has already been shown. Mexico is a schooling ground for American importers and exporters. The experience acquired in the foreign market near at hand is valuable in the approach to others more distant. Mexico is the most important of the Latin countries as a place for the investment of American capital and it may continue to be so. Nevertheless the interruption of the economic connections between the two countries would bring no such consequences to the United States as it would to Mexico.
Friendship with Mexico is more important to the United States politically than economically. An enemy or an unfriendly power on the southern boundary would be a constant threat to the national safety. So also a country that cannot keep order within its own bound-
