New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-12-19
ABRAM $. HEWITT DISSENIS.
HIS OPINIONS DIFFER FROM THE PREsl
DENTS.

DENTS.
THE MEANING OF TIE MONROE DoCTRINE-
NOTHING N IT. HE CONTENDS. REQUIRING
INTERFERENCE BY TIE UNITED STATES
IN THE DISPUTE BETWEEN ENG
LAND AND VENEZUELA.
Ex.uovor Abram s. Hewitt was seen at his
homo IA Q Lexington-ave last night, ana when
asked 10 express his views on the PRESIDENT mes
sage ana the Venezuelan question al hrst fe'useu
IN discuss the subject, saying that IL was 100
ueiebtv a m.tter TO treat In an onhand way. Mr'
Hewitt delivered a speech on the Mexican 'eay
ra freer trade in Congress in February 1881
ond In that speech showed his familiarity with the
Monroe Doctrine For that reason ne WAS "e'u
IN give his views now. In conversational 'o"e'
and with some reluctance Mr.. Hewitt hha'iy 'ha"e
the following statement; =, ,,
"rhe question, briefly stated, seems 10 De apo"'
as follows: There has been a controversy TOT ions
time pendng between Venezuela and Great bi''-
ain I'm regard to the boundaries OF BRUSH uu'"'a'
In respons. to request from 'ehe~u" 20 -"
Friendly action. the Government oil inc Citeu
c,otee had asked the British Government 10 SUD
mil the question to arbitration Inc i'ii''Sn fo
eign Minister professed his Willingness 10 aroi'f".e
,he Question as TO portion Of the territory, ou'
nat as TO that portion which was ALREADY occu-
MED by British subjects. The tmtFd o'a'r' nav
demanded that the whole question OF territorial
jurisdiction in dispute snail be submitted 10 a'o'
tration. and to this derlaHu '"c '''''' ~
has declined TO accede
THE PRESIDENTS POSITION
I'm this stage of the question the Presidents posi-
ton boiled down to practical cohcius'oh' See"''
80 no reduced to- first, proposition to create d
commission and 10 appropriate the money heces-
sarv to enable 1t to reach Jud'ciai cohci"s'o" 90
70 the rights OF the respective parties oecohu' "e
the report OF the Commission is maze the fresiuen'
rneis,s that Great Britain shall yield to the decision
Tins arrived at and If 1t shall decline 10 40 So 'a'
this country, under the provisions OF the Monroe
Doctrine will be bound to enforce the CONCLUSION
at the cannon's mouth If necessary
ITO the proposition TO acquire information as 10
the rights of the respective parties there can DE W
we'll founded objection If our Government THINKS
& &c worth the time and the cost. especially II the
examination Is made with the view TO gratify the
vshes of Venezuela II is not stated. however that
the latter country had made any such reques. ou.
suppose that opposition VIII be maze ei,heF y!
Venezuela or Great Britain TO the investigation IL
s.aus to me that the Presidents recommendation
might better have been made without implying the
consequences of refusal on tho part OF Great
britain IN accent the conclusions of the Commission
as final In diplomacy 1t is always wise 10 aVoiu
taking any position which does not ADMIT OF luii
discussion before the final issue OF war IS coh'e-
nlated The President. however. bases his declara-
the ground tNdt tHe AioIiloS boS'i''" ~
quires this Government not only to see that enc
zue,a gets Justice but that In the event of It's denial
the whole power of the United states snail be ex-
erted to compel submission. The question thus
resolves itself into investigation az to the opi-
cation Of the Monroe Doctrine not only upon our
own Government. but upon other countries DO
not hesitate to say. from careful study OF the
question that the Monroe Doctrine as enuncated
in 1923 and as Interpreted by leading statesmen
and by authorities In international law, does not re-
ouire the intervention of this Government under
the existing circumstances; but, on the contrary 10
go to war for the enforcement Of the Judgment OF
the Commission would violate the Monroe Doc
trine.
ATTITUDE OF JOHN QUINCY ADAMS
John Quincy Adams was Monroe's Secretary Of
State and it is well known historically that he wrote
the paragraphs OF the message which comprise what
is known Monroes Doctrine II any man under
stood It's meaning he must have been John Quincy
Adams. When Adams became President TWO years
later the Panama Congress had been convened. and
President Adams had sent. In the iecess or Con-
gress representatives behalf of the United States
to take part In the deliberations Of that body. This
action was criticised. and the President defended
himself in a message. in which he says among
other things that of the objects to be attained
at the Congress would be- An agreement between
all parties represented at the meeting that each will
guard by its own means against the establishment
OF any future European colony within It's borders
may be found advisable. This than two
word as a principle resulting from the emancipation
OF both the American continents; 1t may be so det
veloped to the southern nations that they may
feel IL as an essential appanage TO their indepen-
dence,
This statement admits Of no doubt that the Mon
Doctrine was 10 be enforced by each nation
within its own borders and with Its own resources
time that the various American governments should
be responsible for the enforcement of the doctrine
unless II violated within its own borders.
VIEWS OF THOMAS II RFNTON
Thomas II. Benton at this time. 1925 al
ready conspicuous in public life Quoting this para
graph, Benton says, in his Thirty Years in the
United States Senate the circumstances OF the
communication render 1t incredible that Mr.. Adams
could be deceived in his UNDERSTANDING and accord
which it has Of late been believed that the United
and repuIse all intrusive colonies from their shores
was entirely confined 10 our own borders: each
for Ss aea 10y IS nS sscana should guard
United States, 90 far from extending gratuitous
neither give nor receive aid in any such enterprise
but that each should use It's means within its
colonial Intrusion
no CAUSE FOR OUR INTERFERENCE
These extracts leave no doubt whatever what
the Monroe Doctrine was at the time of It's pro-
mitigation and OF the contemporaneous exposi-
ton of its obligations upon this and the other Amer
lean Powers. There is. therefore. nothing whatever
With e requires the Ued saes 70 IN
any way In the dispute between Venezuela and
any Interest to protect which would warrant inter
ference is foreclosed by the Presidents admission
disputed territory TO Great Britain we should have
grievance According TO the President our griev-
submit question OF boundary to arbitration There
is nothing in International law which requires dis
in the Monroe Doctrine which requires this Gov;
err \ Isl sha~,.