The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-02-22
Attitude of South American
 Republics to Monroe Doctrine
BY ANDREW JAMES MILLER.
 

since tne vexatious Venezuelan muddle mas now passed its critical stage, and VII De peacefully adjusted by The Hague trinanal, there are certain international ss<nases or the subject which we may now discuss with perfect propriety.
 That the United States Government was perilously close to a very serious and knotty problem, all will confess while we are not yet out of range of what may be the aftermath. Besides, the same d. one of these South American Republics. which are all heavily in debt to conti- mental countries.
 Without criticizlng our own position. or right of interference in the adjustment of the international differences of these parent, to every one, that our policy has never been clearly defined. except in the aggressive one adopted toward Cuba. In a manifest desire to remain at peace with the whole world. we have studiously avoided any broad definition of our tra- dftional Monroe Doctrine
 To our own people, it Is vague and in- comprehensible, furnishing the basis for more specious theories than ever en- shrouded the ever present negro problem. Our statesmen may understand 1t, and for important state reasons. keep their con- stituencies in ignorance of it's true limit etions. This would be nothing new, so far as the masses are concerned, as they
 
 many of the intricacies of statecraft, but our reservation and secretiveness has it's unwholesome influence with those most directly concerned-the countries around whom we throw the protective influence of the Monroe Doctrine. In recent years, they have been inspired with false ideas of the true meaning of this doctrine and as consequence have been led into many tribulations and humiliations.
 When, in 1873. Great Britain ordered the Niobe to Lombard Omoa Honduras, to obtain redress for injuries to her sub jects. the idea prevailed in that country that she would not dare such thing. on account of sentiment in the United States. But she did, as she had a right to do, and the incident became warning to these Central and South American coun- tries, that the United States would offer no protection against their acts of law lessness and maltreatment of foreigners. A quarter of a century later, Nicaragua who had forgotten the lesson of her sis ter Republic, thought to retreat behind the protection of this country, when she had maltreated a British subject. But the occupation of Corinto. without any protest from the United States brought Nicaragua to a realization of her respon- abilities, and she paid the British de- mand.
 It was reserved for the Anglo -Venezue- Ian boundary dispute. in 1896. to precipi- tate new phase, involving an attempt to appropriate part of the Guiana terri tory on the part of Great Britain. The belligerent interference of the United States was certainly justified by the peaceful results achieved in the Paris award of October 1889, but 1t had some effects, which have doubt less played part in the recent embro- glio.
 The writer spent the winter of 1S96-97 in Venezuela, and, from a more or less in- timate acquaintance with President Cas- tro and his Cabinet, as we'll as the of- fcial organs of the administration there, became familiar with the sentiment and ruling motives of that country. in it's re- lation to the boundary dispute. It was plainly manifest in both political and commercial circles that Venezuela was safely protected by the Monroe Doctrine. and that she had nothing more to fear from any foreign country.
 Congressman Livingston of Georgia who had been Instrumental in securing our interference in the dispute, was in- vited to Caracas and received quite an ovation. Patriotic demonstrations were held and the American legation was sur rounded by enthusiasts. and Minister Thomas made a speech to the multitude For many days this enthusiasm was kept at a high pitch, but It's subsistence was followed by most singular effect From gentle hints In curbstone chats the sentiment finally came out in the newspapers. that the United States was not prompted by unselflsh motives toward Venezuela, but had intervened to re. awaken and bolster up one of her dor. mant traditional doctrines.
 I have copies of La Independencia oi La Guaira December, 1S96), and of F.