The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-09-06
CREAM of the SPECIALS
PRESIDENTS ALLUsroN
 TO THE MONROE DOCTRINE.
Has Stirred Diplomatic and Navar1
 Circles Unusually.

From Washington to Brooklyn Eagle. Diplomatic and naval circles have been stirred to an unusual degree of interest by the Presidents repeated reference to the Monroe Doctrine and the need for navy to back up the enforcement of that principle. should occasion demand it. There has been some speculation as to whether there are underground move ments in diplomacy which called forth the Presidents pointed allusion to this
 There are no surface indications that any European nation contemplates an act in violation of the principle laid down by President Monroe. The Alaska boundary question is apparently sleeping as soundly as ever, no new move having been made since the signing of the modus of 1900. Several months ago the State Depart ment had occasion to demand of Germany statement of her intentions regarding Venezuela, the Kaiser having made it known that he would land sailors there. This inquiry brought a prompt declara- tien that the sailors were to be landed only temporarily, and that Germany had no intention of permanently acquiring foothoid in that territory. For the past lew months there has been pronounced lull in diplomatic negotiations. about the only matter that Is now expressing the attention of State Department officials Columbia and the preservation of Ameri- can interests in Venezuela and Hayti. Diplomats are, therefore, inclined to be- lievc that the Presidents second reference to the Monro Doctrine Is nothing more than an amplifcatlon and explanation of his speech last week at Augusta, Me, be- ing occasioned by the excited comments of the European press.
 Naval men do not attempt to conceal their delight over the tone of the Presi- dents speeches. all of which are being closely followed by officers in both branches of the military service. The speeches augur well for future liberal appropriations for more ships. One of them, in commenting on the situation, said:
 declaration that we must have navy prepared to back up what we say about the Monroe Doctrine would mean that we must build up a naval strength equal reference to the Monroe Doctrine is not calculated to add to the feeling of friend ship between England and the United States. but 1t was not the thought of pos- sihle trouble with Great Britain that caused me to say that we must have. a navy equal to hers if we are to be in a position to enforce the Monroe Doctrine. Should the United States become involv- ed in difficulty with a European power, we would have to figure on the oppos- ton of two navies. for there would very likely be @ combination of two nations against us. When our navy is equal to that Of England, we will be in position to stand off a combination of any two continental forces, for the basic principal on which the present British navy is founded is to have fleet equal to the two strongest European navies It Is a long road that must be travelled before our navy will approach the strength of the English fleet. At present we are rated about fifth, various authorities differing in their methods of calculating the strength of ships. England comes first, then France, Russia, Germany and the United States, although many think that of Germany. Whether or not we will be Germanys match on the seas in four or five years will depend altogether on Con- gross. We know how many ships the Kaiser will have at that time. as his Government is putting out battleships and