The San Francisco call., 1901-12-08
PUTS A NEW
, MEANING INTO
THE DOCTRINE
Roosevelt's Interpreter
Of Monroe's Stand Diff
fers From Others.
Disfavors Land Grabbing by
One Republic at Expense
Of Another.
United States Has Never Made Any
Alliance With Any Other Amer
ican State on the Sub
ject of Aggression.
speeial plspateh 70 &c call.

= CALL BUREAU l4Uo U SIhEEIs n.
W., WASHINGTON, Dec. 7.-President
Roosevelt's remarks on the Monroe doc
trine in his message to Congress are re-
garded here as an announcement that the
Monroe doctrine will hereafter be inter
preted as discouraging and disfayoring
territorial aggrandizement by one repub-
lie at the expense Of another.
This Interpretation has aroused much
interest among public men and diplomats,
and efforts have been made to ascertain
just what the President did mean by rs
declaration.
1T is not" said e Cabinet officer, "a
declaration on the part Of the President
that the United States will not permit any
aggression by any one American power
upon territory Of another. It is a declara-
ton that this Government would regard
with great concern and great disfavor any
conquest Of an American power by an
other American power. It does not mean
that the United States will form an alli-
ance with a weaker power to prevent fits
. conquest with stronger one"
Senator Lodge, a member Of the Senate
Foreign Relations Committee, who lis
tened to the statement approved the in
depreciation given, adding, THE declara-
ton simply repeats the traditional and
uniform policy Of this country. 1t is not
a new departure"
Roosevelt's Interpretation New.
Nevertheless, an examination Of former
Presidents messages shows no such in
depreciation as given by President Roose-
veIt. These positions have been hitherto
taken with respect to the Monroe doc
trine:
The declarations upon which Monroe
consulted Jefferson and his Cabinet relat-
ed to the interpositiOn Of European pow
ers in affairs Of American states.
The kind Of interposition declared
against was that which may be made for
the purpose Of controlling their political
affairs or Of extending to this hemisphere
the system in operation upon the CONT
nent Of Europe by which great powers
exercise control over the affairs Of other
European states
The declarations DO not intimate any
course Of conduct to be pursued in case
Of such interposition. but merely say they
y would be considered as dangerous to our
peace and safety, and as manifestation
Of an Unfriendly disposition toward the
United States" which it would be i'm
possible for US to behold with indiffer-
ence," thus leaving the nation to act at
all times as its opinion Of its policy or
duty might require.
The United States has never made any
alliance with or pledge to any other
American state on the subject covered by
the declarations.
No Prohibition by Monroe.
Declaration respecting non-colonization
was a subject distinct from European in
tervention with American states and re-
lated to the acquisition of sovereign title
by any European power by new and orig
inal occupation or colonization. The
principle Of public law upon which it was
placed was that the continent must be
considered as already within the occu-
patton and jurisdiction of an independent
civilized nation.
There is nothing in the message of
President Monroe which refers in any
way to the relations Of Spanish-American
states or the imposition Of any prohibi-
ton upon them to extend their respective
territories. President Monroe asserted
KAT 1T is still the true policy of the
IAated States to leave the parties Cspain
and the South American States) to them
selves, in the hope that other powers will
pursue the same course"
President Grant, in his second annual
message, paved the way for President
Roosevelt's utterance by declaring that
''allied and other republics Of Spanish
origin on this continent may see in this
fact a new proof of our sincere interest
In their welfare, of our desire to see
them blessed with good governments cap
able Of maintaining order and Of preserv-
ing their respective territorial integrity"
Little Republics Protest.
In Pan-American diplomatic circles
great Importance is attached to Roose-
veIrs declaration. One diplomat stated
that it meant nothing less than an an
nouncement Of the purpose Of the Wash
fngton Government to direct the foreign
policies Of the American republics.
''The Monroe doctrine" he said, de
fined foreign policies Of American repub-
lies with respect 10 Europe. The doctrine
prSauIgated by Roosevelt tells US that
we VIII not be allowed to take the fruits
Of war provided they be in the shape of
territory. If Brazil and Argentina were
to become involved IN a war under Roose-
velt's policy the conqueror would not be