Omaha daily bee., 1902-12-21
MAINTAINING THE DOCTRINE"

Nearly seven years ago, when the
agitation over the boundary controversy
between Great Britain and Venezuela
was intense, the committee on foreign
relations Of the United States senate
made a declaration Of the attitude Of
our government regarding the Monroe
doctrine. This reaffirmed the principles
promulgated by President Monroe in his
message Of December 2, 1923, and de-
clared that the United States will assert
and maintain that doctrine and those
principles, specifying the conditions and
circumstances under which this country
would regard an infringement thereof
"as the manifestation Of an u~nfriendly
disposition toward the United States and
as an interposition which 1t would be
impossible in any form for the United
states to regard with Indifference" The
resolution of the senate committee re-
lated to any attempt by a European
power to acquire new or additional ter
ritory on the American continent or any
island adjacent thereto, or to assert any
right of sovereignty or dominion in the
same in any case or instance.
In the executive session of the senate
received attention and while there was
no disposition to attribute Interior mo-
tives to any of the parties to the trouble,
there was a resolute purpose expressed,
ohnvva ond hounnd oil mn ffCo rghfn En-
maintain the Monroe doctrine in spirit
and letter and to permit no aggressive
movement that might aim at the acquisi-
ton Of South American territory by any
that this is in accord with the feeling of
the American people. irrespective of
political division. sademocratic senator
said, on a question of this kind there
was no party division, "the maintenance
of the Monroe doctrine devolved on the
whole people," But while there is
unanimity of sentiment In favor Of up
holding the doctrine, there is divergence
Of opinion respecting its meaning in
scope. This has been strikingly shown
in the public discussion of the prin-
ciple %enunciated by Monroe in connec.
ton with the Venezuelan matter. 1t has
been urged that the United States would
have been JUSTIFIED by that doctrine in
proposing and insisting upon arbitration,
although no territorial acquisition is con.
templated and the European powers ex
plicitly avowed their purpose to be to
| simply collect their claims by means
which this country had not only recog.
nized as legitimate, but had itself EN-.
ployed. 1t is not remarkable that there
should be misrepresentation on the part
of the southern republics regarding the
intent and scope of the Monroe doctrine
1t is easy to understand that they should
construe 1t as affording them protection
In any circumstances-for their refusal
to pay their just debts or any violation
of their obligations, as well as from
attempts by foreign powers to take theil
territory or interfere with their political
institutions. But all intelligent Ameri
cans ought to understand the extent OF
the application or the doctrine, which
has been repeatedly and plainly defined
1t must now be clearly understood
even by the southern countries that the
United States does not propose to as
sumo any responsibility for debts which
they neglect or refuse to pay and will
not shield them If they attempt to re
pudiate such obligations. Neither will
it undertake to protect them from proper
punishment for any violation of inter
national duties and responsibilities. Al
President Roosevelt has said: I'VE de
not guarantee any state against punish
ment If it misconducts itself, provided
that punishment does not take the form
of the acquisition Of territory by an!
non-American power"