The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-04-27
Circulation Statement.
The South American question.

Daily average Sunday. 20,7s0. exoeptet'-. 1871
The South American question.
Readers of The Times will remember
that. a year ago. the London Spec
tator- published a sensational story to
the effect that Germany was arming
for the ultimate purpose OF defying the
American Monroe Doctrine, and seiz-
ing a part or perhaps all OF Brazil in
spite Of whatever opposition might be
encountered from the United States.
Al about tie same time the Hon Elihu
Root, Secrefa of War. made d speech
which Attracted wide comment, warn
ing the country in the same direction
To-Day the London Saturday Review"
reVfves the theme. and says
The expansion OF the German Navy Is more in
preparation for a contest with the United states
than with Great Britain. because The TeddicSt
classes for future naval conflicts viii be found IN
the struggle for the partition the exploitation
81 the great South American Continent
1t would be ungracious in the ex-
treme 10 infer hostility from every
movement of friendly power in the
direction Of increasing The size OF
efficiency of its army OF navy. We
have been adding to our sea power con
sideraEiy of late years but we should
be both surprised and offended were
Canada or Chile To consider the fact
as an evidence of q desire on CUR part
10 make war upo. them. There is enc
other consideration in the connection
that should rot be ignored The nose
or a mans face is not palmer than the
object of the british press 10 convince
the American Government and people
that they are menaced with annihiIa-
ton at the hands of Continental Eu-
rope and that their only salvation les
in again practically becoming a prov
Iace Of England. The interest which
Inc latter has in keeping Us from too
friendly relations with any other State
Is obvious enough to detract in some
degree from the --alue Of the British
admoniuons.
At the same time we must confess
that there Is a possibility Of differences
between this country and Germany.
Should the latter develop territorial
ambitions in the Western Hemisphere
and attempt imperial expansion by
means Of COLOMBIA ti0a in South Amer
ica- The letter and spirit Of the Mon
Zoe Doctrine would be opposed TO sUca
a Development To be entirely honest.
they would be not more SO than they
were 70 the perndious seizure Of what
is now British Honduras. and its cree
ton into a Crown Colony by Great Brit
ain in 1852 That act was not only
defiance Of the doctrine at a time wien
4
unable 10 enforce 1t against q strong
agsressor, but it was in direct and
fragrant violation Of the CIayton-BuI-
wer treaty between the two countries.
We permitted this treschery without
resistance or protest. and it IS to be
feared thereby esJa blished a precedent
which one day may be used 70 our dis
advantage The saturday Review
while evidently anxious 10 impress the
American public with a sense Of inse-
cUrity, desires 10 avoid giving offence
to Germany: says that It would not be
good British policy 10 oppose Germany's
legitimate aims IN South America. and
that an alliance with the United States
that had for its purpose the maInten-
ance - the Monroe Doctrine would
not only be ludicrously IN opposition 10
ouv own interests. but IT would rightly
arouse every other nation TO a death
struggle against a genuine Anglo Sax
On menace
It was another London editor who. a
few years ago said that the beat
tudes always seem To go hand in hand
with Britain's interests The Re
view" as We might expect. IS perfectly
able to forget that the Monroe Doctrine
was formulated and declared on the
suggestion Of England and quite as
mssch in British as American inter
ests at the time It was intended 70
warn the Holy Alliance. Of which Prus-
STA was a member, that any attempt
Il restore the sJatu quo ante in Amer
lea for the benefit Of Spain, by inter
national interference in the new re-
publics. practically as had been done in
Europe after the fail of Napoleon in
the cases OF d number Of States and
princes, would be resisted by England
and the United States Our English
relatives are Of the most afectionate
kind when they can use us. Otherwise. .
how quickly they can get out from IN
der