The silver blade. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1895-1903, 1899-08-05
WAS An AMERICAN VICTORY
PROCEEDINGS AT THE HAGUE.
The Monroe DOctrin Is Recognized the
World Over-It Won ut the Hague
1t Has Been of Great Value to the
United States In the Far East.

The Hague, Aug. 4.-The United States
comes oni Of the peace conference with its
prestige greatly increased by the victory
it has won in obtaining recognition of
the Monroe doctrine. Whatever the world
ut large may think of the labors of the
conference, the delegates themselves are
almost unanimous in affirming that their
accomplishments are greater and more iiu-
portant than they expected at the outset.
Their view is probably justified if one
includes the unwritten and indirect results
Of their deliberations. The feature Of the
congress which most impresses many of its
members is the removal of many preju-
dices and misconceptions which more than
two months close and amicable associa-
ton between representative men of all
countries has accomplished. This unques-
tionably will prove of greater value to the
United States than to any other country.
II is true, as mentioned earlier in these
dispatches, that there was tacit feeling
at The outset in the minds Of many of the
delegates that the Americans were almost
interlopers in what heretofore had been
regarded exclusively European questions.
This feeling had entilely disappeared, even
before the American delegates themselves
raised the point week ago that the Unit
ed States must decline to accept the pro
posed duty to volunteer friendly offices in
quarrels between European countries.
The American delegates also accom-
panied their adhesion to the arbitration
convention with statement which
amounted to an express reservation of the
Monroe doctrine, saying: "Nor shall any
thing in said convention be construed t
require the REIMBURSEMENT by the United
States of its traditional attitude towart
purely American questions"
In accepting this declaration on the par
of the United States the continental pow
ers virtually admitted the validity OF th
Monroe doctrine as a principle of interna
tional law, as its validity had been ad
mitted by Great Britain in the Venezuela
affair.
Moreover, America was not only full.
recognized as the great new factor in TIL
international situation, but her delegate
commanded greater influence during tn
| last SIX weeks Vi Luc bcSSloA IMAM
others.
1t is curious, but significant, that moth
ing added 80 much to American infiuenc
, in this parliament of the world as the &C
, vent of the American flag in the east.
1t has been manifested again and agai
in indirect ways to the United States del'
gates that the appearance of American al
thority on the other side of the Pacific ha
won such recognition and respect from tn
other great powers as no amount OF il
ternal progress and prosperity would ha,
3 accomplished.
The Philippine question, Of course, HI
been discussed, but never in any line e.
!. cept the thorough execution of the presel
q policy. The European statesmen at II
= Hague simply do not recognize as possib
the existence OF any other policy, ar
!. would be extremely astonished if oppos
!. :, tion to the energetic establishment
: American authority in the islands shou
he seriously considered.