Omaha daily bee., 1902-12-11
RELATIONS WITH SOUTHERN
REPUBLICS

Current events give fresh interest to
the relations Of the United States with
the southern republics, at all times a
matter Of concern and one Of constantly
growing importance. In an address de-
liyered about a year ago Secretary Hay,
referring TO the independent countries
Of this hemisphere. said that the briefest
expression Of our rule of conduct Is per
haps the Monroe doctrine and the golden
rule. He thought the republics to the
south Of us were perfectly convinced
of the sincerity of u attitude. They
know we desire the prosperity Of each of
them" said the Secretary of state, "and
peace and harmony among them. We
no more want their territory than we
covet the mountains of the moon. we
are grieved and distressed when there
are differences among them, but even
then we should never think of trying to
compose IN of those differences unless
by the request Of both parties to it. We
owe them all the consideration which
we claim for ourselves" This voiced
the unanimous sentiment Of the Amer
lean people.
Another reassuring statement of the
friendship of the United States for the
southern republics was made. in the
annual message of President Roosevelt
This declared that no independent nation
In America need have the slightest fear
Of aggression from this country. ut be-
hooves each one to maintain order
within its own borders and to discharge
its honest obligations to foreigners" said
the president. "When this is done, they
can rest assured that, be they strong
or weak, they have nothing to dread
from outside interference" This is a
plain and simple statement Of the posi-
ton of u government toward the
southern republics. Not only have we
no design upon their territory and no
intention to interfere with them polite
ally, but we shall protect them against
any foreign aggression that threatens
their territorial integrity. That is the
construction our government places upon
the doctrine declared nearly eighty years
ago. The United States says to those
countries that they should faithfully full
I'LL their international obligations and
that they should pay their Just debts.
and that when they have done this it
will defend them against foreign ag-
gression.
This attitude relieves the United
States OF any duty or responsibility in
regard to the controversy as it now
stands between Venezuela and the
European powers that have claims
against that country. So long as those
powers confine themselves to the pur-
pose to collect their claims in accord
anc with precedents and do not attempt
to seize Venezuelan territory the United
States will not i~nterpose. It offers no
shield to reputation of Just debts by
any country, nor does it undertake to
say how long a creditor nation should
wait for the payment Of valid claims.
Only In the event of Germany and
Great Britain invading and threatening
to hold possession of the territory of
Venezuela would the United States feel
called upon to interpose and such a
contingency Is not at all probable.
The southern republics ought to
clearly understand the feeling of this
country toward them and its relations
and obligations as a protecting power.
They have certainly been most amply
informed as to these, yet 1t seems they
are not yet properly understood by
some of those countries.