Omaha daily bee., 1902-12-28
POSSIBLE FUTURE piFFrULrns.

While the agreement to submit the
Venezuelan dispute to the arbitration
of The Hague tribunal gives assurance
OF a ~peaceable settlement and makes a
most important precedent for such con
troversies, intelligent students of con-
ditions in South and Central America
and Of the relations Of the United States
to the southern countries see the posi-
bility Of future difficulties which II may
not be practicable to submit to arbi-
t%ration, as in the present case. SO far
as the payment of their just debts to
foreigners is concerned, it seems a
reasonable expectation that hereafter at
least such Of them as have a stable
government and sufficient will
make an honest effort to meet their
obligations. The Venezuelan episode
should certainly impress upon them the
expediency of doing this. They must
now fully understand, If they did not
before, that the United States will not
shield them from the responsibility in
Cured by Reputation or n persistent
neglect to pay what they owe. This
country does not propose to protect
those who willfully practice dishonesty
toward creditors.
But the financial obligations of the
southern republics to foreigners, al
though very large, are not the only
thing out of which future trouble may
arise. The fact must be recognized that
colonization by Europeans of the coun-
tries of South and Central America will
go on. Many subjects of European
nations are already settled in those
countries and it is certain that within
the next half century their numbers. in
the temperate zone of South America at
least, will be enormously increased. As
n recent writer points out, should fric-
ton arise between the Europeans and
the governments under which they live.
the story of the uitlanders in South
Africa will be repeated. In that event
foreign governments would interpOse in
behalf of their subjects and then would
arise the grave question as to the course
of the United States. 1t is easy to CON
ceive of circumstances in which arbitra-
ton could not be invoked and the only
settlement would be through war.
Another thing out of which future
trouble may possibly grow is the fight
for markets. The question is not so
much the acquisition of Spanish-Amerl-
can territory as the control of Spanish
American markets. Where European
capitalists have penetrated, there
American capitalists are sure to fol-
low. Competition has already resulted
and collision is only apt to follow, es-
pecially as the countries in question are
excitable republics. European capital
lists are vigorously supported by their
respective governments. Shall Ameri-
can capitalists be left to shift for them
selves? 1t is held by some to be an
implication Of the Monroe doctrine that
a working method for guaranteeing to
European powers adequate protection to
the personal freedom, lives and property
of their citizens in the Spanish Ameri-
can countries must be devised. Will the
best efforts of the United States to Sc
cure such protection be satisfactory to
the European governments? If not,
interference, even 70 the extent of hold
ing territory indefinitely, is not unlikely.
Obviously the duty or obligation the
United States has assumed regarding
the independent countries of the west
ern hemisphere is not so simple as most
people are apt to think. We have
maintained this relation for more than
three-Ouarters OF a century without hav-
ing n very serious trouble, but we
cannot be sure that we shall have none
for a like period in the future.