Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1903-04-18
NEW MO,
Indorses Monroe Doctrine 81
Suggests It's Extension.
TO GUARD WEAK DEBTOR NATIONS

First south American Country to
Join the Jnsted ssates In Facing
European lower NO Alliance
Proposed by Argentine Republic.
Secretary HAY NoncoEamitsai
st the legation Of tie Argentine ne
public ii Washington there was given
out the other nisht i statement deny
ing that that government had asked for
an alliance with the United tales 10
connection with it's recent note or
some features OF the Venezuelan incl
dent, says the New York Press. This
statement is OF importance because 1t
shows. first, that Argentina is the first
South American country to indorse
formally the Monroe doctrine and, sec
ond. that she asks Secretary Hay to
recognize an extension of that doctrine.
After making the denial which has
been mentioned the statement contin-
ues:
I'm fact the dispatch of DIR. Drago
minister of foreign relations Of the Ar
geatine Republic. aimed only t. explain
to his diplomatic agent in Washington
the views of his home government rel.
alive TO tie coerciye collection of pub
lie debts of American states by Euro
pean nations and Instructed him to
convey those views to Secretary Hay,
expressing his hope that the doctrine
Of international public law set forth
by the Argentine government should
prove acceptable to the United States
Taking into consideration the real
character of many OF the obligations
contracted by the governments of the
minor South American republics, the
Argentine government has felt that
there is greater danger to the peace of
the continent if the compulsory de
mand of immediate payment of public
debts or national obligations is TO be
accepted in silence without discrimina.
ton as a right of the stronger powers
of Europe to control and dominate the
weaker and struggling states of Cen
trail and South America.
ION this point the Argentine minis
ter of foreign relations in his note re-
marks that the capitalist who supplies
any money to a foreign state always
takes into consideration the resources
of the country and the more or less
probabilities that the obligations will
says further on this: The compulsory
and immediate demand for payment at
q given moment of a public debt by
can of force would not produce 9th
er than the ruin of the weaker nations
and the absorption of their govern
ments altogether, with all its inherent
faculties, by the powerful nations of
the earth
"Dr. Drago also cites enunciations by
Hamilton and provisions of the consti.
tuition of the United States in this con-
nection. DR.. Drago explicitly disclaims
any intention to defend bad faith or
Irregularities and deliberate and volun,
tary insolvency.
ave do not pretend, neither can we
pretend he says, that these nations
shall occupy an exceptional position in
their relations with the European pow
ers, who have the undoubted right to
protect their subjects as amply as in
any other part of the globe against
prosecution or from any injustice they
may have been victims of. The only
thing that the Argentine Republic
maintains Is the principle already ac,
cepted that there cannot be European
territorial expansion in America or OPP
preston Of the people of this continent
because their unfortunate financial
condition might oblige one of them to
put off the fulfllment of it's obligation.
The principle which we maintain Is
that a public debt cannot give rise to
an armed Intervention and much less
to the territorial occupation of the soil
of American nations by any European
power
Complying with his instructions.
Minister Merou left a copy of the com
munication received from his minister
of foreign relations with the secretary
of state. In his reply Mr.. Hay did not
express assent or dissent TO the doc
trine of public law set forth in the note
of the Argentine minister of foreign re-
lations. He cited the minister to the
messages of the president of Dec. 3.
1901, and Dec. 2. 1902.
Secretary Hay stated further hat
advocating and adhering in practice
In questions concerning itself to the
resort of international arbitration IN
settlement Of controversies not adjusta-
BILE by the orderly treatment of diplo-
matte negotiation, the government of
the United States would always be
glad to see questions of the justice of
claims by n state against another
growing out of individual wrongs or
national obligations, as well as the
guarantees for the execution of what
ever award may be made, left to the
decision of IN impartial arbitration
tribunal. before which the litigant ma
tons, weak and strong alike, may
stand as equals in the eye Of interna.
tional law and mutual duty
"One of the most important features