Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-12-17
VIEWS OF LEADERS
ADMINISTRATIONS INTERPRET
TATIoN OF MONROE DOCTRINE.
The Opposition Will Not Embarrass
President or His Advisers-Yes-
terday's Executive Session.

AS soon as the Senate went into execu-
tive session yesterday afternoon at 4:1O
o'clock the Venezuelan question came up
and was discussed for over an hour.
Senator Teller. disclaiming all intention
of being critical, and saying he merely de-
sired information, asked Senator Cullom,
chairman Of the committee on foreign re-
lations. what information he possessed as
to the Venezuelan affair. Mr.. Teller in in
quiring, said that the situation is such that
senators felt the Monroe doctrine at any
time might become involved if the compli-
cation should continue.
Senators Express Their Views.
Senator Cullom replied to the inquiry
that he had no knowledge of recent events
not contained in the public prints. Messrs.
Bacon, Hoar, Lodge and Stewart all made
remarks. In none of the addresses was any
thing harsh or critical said. The tone Of
all the speeches, whether by republicans or
democrats was that our position as a ma
ton should be one of watchfulness. There
was general agreement that while the
means adopted by Great Britain and Ger
many for the collection of their debts had
been quite strenuous, they thus far had
committed no infringement of the Monroe
doctrine, and therefore had done nothing to
which the United States could take excep
ton.
This was the position of Senator Cullom,
as it was of other senators who spoke.
Correspondence With Germany.
Mr.. Cullom said that much light as to the
attitude of the administration could be OBJ
tained by consulting the correspondence
conducted between the State Department
and the German ambassador a year ago.
He then called attention to the fact that on
December 10, 1901 the representative of
Emperor William had brought the matter
of VeneEuelas debts and her apparent in
difference to them to the attention of the
Secretary Of State. The German ambassa-
dor in his letter gave the department COM
plete information from the German stand
point Of the position of his government. He
said that for seven years Venezuela had
failed to pay interest on debt to German
citizens of about s5,O00.O00 contracted in
the construction of a railroad, and that IN
addition there were other debts amounting
to about 81. 100000 due German citizens
from Venezuela which it had proved impos-
sible to collect. He added that every
known peaceable means had been tried to
secure the money, and that his govern
ment, feeling that patience had ceased to
be virtue. had decided to use coercive
means. It was desired. however. he said,
whatever steps might be taken by his
country there was no desire to encroach on
or interfere with the Monroe doctrine This
explanation, he added, he thought was due
his government was to assist its people in
collecting the debts due them
Monroe Doctrine Interpreted.
Secretary Hay replied December 10, 1901,
saying In effect that the Monroe doctrine
was not intended to shield any American
nation from the payment Of it's honest
debts. and that Its purpose was to pre-
vent the acquisition Of territory by old
world nations. To further elucidate the
position of the United States on the Monroe
doctrine he quoted from the first annual
message Of President Roosevelt which had
then been In the hands Of Congress for only
a few days, as follows:
1.-The Monroe doctrine Is a declaration
that there must be no territorial aggran-
dizement by any non+American power at
the expense of any American power on
American soil. It Is In no wise intended as
hostile to any nation in the old world. Still
less 1t Is intended to give cover to any ag-
erosion by one new world power at the ex-
pense of any other 1t is simply step, and
q long step, toward assuring the universal
peace of the world by securing the posi-
bilty Of permanent peace on this hem
isphere.
"During the past century other influences
have established the permanence and inde-
pendence Of the smaller states of Europe
Through the Monroe doctrine we hope to be
able to safeguard like independence and
secure like permenance for the lesser among
the new world nations.
This doctrine has nothing to do with
the commercial relations Of any American
power, save that 1t In truth allows each OF
them to form such as 1t desires. In other
words, 1t Is really a guaranty of the COM