The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-03-12
The South American Republic
Declares its Position.
OPPOSES COERClvE
COLLECTION OF DEBTS
Principle Set Forth That the Public
Debt Cannot Give Rise to an Arm.
ed Intervention. Much Less to 585
Il erritorial Occupation Of i5
American Soil BY Elrro- s5
pean Nations.
lBY Associated Press.l8

III & tE4 StB (By Associated Presb) stsgA5
WASHINGTON ID. c.. March 1.-THE
following statement was given out to-,
night at the Legation of the Argentine
Republic: s'ai {. } Is
$.,.Recent publications referring to he
note OF Instructions sent by the Argcn-
tine Government to its minister in Wash
tnEton, DR.. Garcia Merou, in regard TO
some Of the features OF the Venezuelan
incident give the erroneous impression
that Argentina asked for an alliance with
the United States and tina t the proposltlon
was cjected by tile Secretary Of state. S8
'In fact the dispatch of Or. Drago,
minister OF foreign relations Of the Ar a.
aentine Republic. aimed only TO explain
TO his diplomatic agent In washington on
the views of the home government reia-- .!.a
tive to the coerclve collection OF pubic
debts Of American States by European
nations and instructed him to convey
those views to Secretary I1ay express
ing the hope that the doctrine Of inter-
national public law SCI forth by the AT at
gentine government should prove accept
able to tho United States. 8s55aIS's
E8'.TakinE into consideration iii tho real
character Of many Of the obligations con
Etracted By tho governments tof the lnino
South African republics, heB.Argentino
EgOverlm llHS EICiLhs lutI o.
danger to the peace OF the continent II
he compulsory demand Of immediate
payment OF public debts or national OBJ
LEGATIONS is to be accepted in silence
without discrlmina ton, as right of the
stronger powers OF Europe to control and
dominate tho weaker and Struggling
states Of Central and South America.
RUIN toF{THE WEAKER.
son this point the Argentine minister
OF foreign relations in his note remarked
that tho capt. talist who supplies any
money to a foreign state always q taxes
into consideration the resources Of the
country and the more or less probabilities
that the obligations will be filled without:
difficulty Dr. Drago says further on:
gs.a"rhe compulsory and immediate de-
mand for payment at a given moment OF
a public debt by means of force would
not produce other than the ruin Of the
weaker atIons and the absorption Of their
government altogether with all It's inner
ent faculties by the powerful nations Of
the earth. Il
"Dr. prago also cities enunciations by
Hamiltongand provisions Of the Constitu-
stion OF the United States In this connec-
ton. n a n al
Y 'Dr. Drago explicitly lisclaims any in-8
3tcnton to defend bad faith or irresulari-
ties and deliberate and voluntary insol-
.vency. #
I'VE do not pretend, neither can we
pretend he says. "that these nations
shall occupy an exceptional position In 4
Powers. who have the undoubted right
to protect thoil. subjects as amply rs
in any part OF the world against pros
ecuton or from any injustice that they
may have been victims OF. The only
thing that the Argentine R}epubllc main
tains Is the principle already hccepted,
that there cannot be European terri
sion of{tl,o people OF this continent Sbo-
cause their unfortunate financial condl-8
tion might obge one Of them to putSoff
tho fnlnlment OF it's obligations. The
principle which we maintain Is that tho
public debt cannot give rise to an armed
and much less to the terrl-5
torial occupation Of the soil Of American
MONROE DOCTRINE. 6
Complying with his instructions Min
,ister Merou left a copy Of the cOmmu-s
nIcatinn receyed from his Minister OF
ForeIgn Relations with. the Secretary Of
State. In his reply, Mr.. Hay did not
express assent or dissent to tho doctrine
OF public law sset forth In the note of
Argentine Minister Of FOREIGN Relations.
Tie cited tho minister to the messages Of
the President Of December 3, 1901. and
I>ecember 2, 1902. t3 " K, ! S
98''secrelary Hay stated further that
advocating and adherng in practice In
questions concerning itself to the resort
OF international arbitration In settlement
of duties not adjustable by tho orderly
treatment Of Diplomatic negotiation the.
Government Of the United States would
always be glad to see tho peaceful ad-
justment of claims by one State against
another growing out 0f Individual
wrongs or national obligations, MS we'll
as the guarantee for tho execution of
whatever award may be made, left to
the decision OF one impartial arbitration
tribunal before which the litigent nation,
weak and strong alike. may stand as
equals In the eye of tho interna tional
law and mutual duty"
Ono OF the most important features of
the Argentine note is the recognltion
and endorsement given by tho govern
mont of that republic to tho Monroe
Doctrine. which lor the first time IS
acknowledged and accepted as y princlT
pie OF American public law BY nation
5nP SoutI America. ISNf