Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1901-02-07
INTERNATIONAL INDEPENDENCE
Philadelphia Press

Philadelphia Pressl
Independence" in the discussion over
the various questions brought before the
country by the Spanish war and by the
increased activity in the foreign relations
of the United States is constantly dis
cussed as if independence were fixed
fact, absolute, unchanged and without
grade or difference.
Nations, as matter of fact, differ
greatly in the degree of their indepen-
dence. Belgium is an independent state,
but this neutral kingdom is precluded by
treaty from ceding the Congo State to any
country but France. Holland is indie
pendent, but no cession of the colonies
secured to the Netherlands by the treaty
of Vienna and other treaties at the same
period would be allowed by either Eng
land or Germany without the consent of
one or the other, formal or informal, as
the case may be. Greece is independent,
but since 1897 the finances of Greece are
under the supervision of an international
commission. Persia is independent. but
its northern custom Eouses are in Russian
hands. The Transvaal was independent,
to 90 step father, but no treaty could
be finally ratified by it to which England
objected.
In the American system of states manv
countries are under various limitations
Under the Monroe doctrine no indepen-
den: American State is at liberty to cede
territory to a European Power. Colombia
is independent but on the lsthmus of
Panama the United States can at any
time exercise in case of disturbance the
sovereign right of maintaining order.
Nicaragua is independent, but a canal
across its territory, if built, is now under
various treaty limitations and will be
under more if it is dug by the United
States. Venezuela is independent, but If
the Republic sought to cede the disputed
territory awarded to it over to England
the United States would at once object.
Peru was and still is almost as heavily in
debt as Greece or Egypt, but the indie
pendence of Peru could not be used to
put the realm in the hands of European
creditors. The independence of no South
American country is such as to permit it
to make such an arrangement with any
Euro pean Power as Persia, still held in
dependent, has made with Russia.
The power to cede territory at will is
one of the marks Of an independent state,
but in return for the protection afforded
10y the Monroe doctrine all Spanish
American states are practically forbidden
to cede territory to European state. No
one of them can surrender its financial or
administrative autonomy to foreign
banking firm or to any foreign nation in
return for loan Their credit is material.
ly lower because all men know no such
international proceedings could be taken
in their case as were taken with Greece
and may be with Portugal. No one of
the Spanish. American States could enter
into an offensive and defensive alliance
putting their armed forces under Euro
pean control. Their independence" is
modified at all points by the security Of.
fered by the United States and its pro-
lection, which requires certain correspond.
ing concessions from them.
"Independence" is, in short, relative
term in international law, and nations
possess different degrees of independence.