The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-10-08
THE MONROE DOCTRINE.
A British west Indian who Thinks the
United states, Under the Doctrine.
Should Police the West ern Hemisphere.

United states, Under the Doctrine,
Should Police the western Hemisphere.
To THE EDITOR OF The SUN--Sir: All
Americans are determined to uphold the
Monroe Doctrine. but the stern logic OF facts
! Is forcing them to perceive that the Monroe
Doctrine carries with it some unpleasant
responsibilities. These responsibilities are
growing SO large that it seems, to an outsider.
high time for America to reconsider her
attitude toward the more turbulent and
troublesome of the Latin American States.
| II they are to be protected by the Monroe
| Doctrine from the worst consequences OF
their misconduct, il It not due to the civilized
Powers Of Europe that America should play
the part Of the policeman and keep some
sort OF order In Latin America?
There was time when petty. haif-civiiZed
states could squabble among themselves
without the outside world being a penny
the worse, but that day has passed forever.
| With the extension OF oversee commerce to
| the remotest ends of the earth, 1t has become
impossible for any country to indulge In the
| luxury of local disturbances without in
| fringing upon the larger interests OF the
civilized commercial powers. 1t follows. as
natural consequence. that petty States which
| indulge in riotous living will simply be coerced
| into living we'll
AS an ordinary thing. ! should not be IN
oned to credit President Castro Of Venezuela
with political foresight, but in one remark
which he made to me in an interview at La
Victoria last Christmas Day he showed q
| correct appreciation of the meaning OF the
| recent blockade Of the Venezuelan coast by
England Germany and Italy
This is only the beginning" he said. "of
] serious and determined crusade by the
| allies and other European Powers against
(antr nd Vr,lo hnu
| been chosen merely as the opening scene Of
the drama, and there will be much more to
| follow. unless by a vigorous alliance Of all
| America we brighten of European aggression.
| What has happened to Venezuela may happen
| at any moment to Colombia or Honduras
| or Nicaragua or Huyu or Salvador. 1t il
| high time for us 70 decide how We are going
to face this ne state Of things"
President Castro is right in this sense. that
the republics he mentions. and others OF their
kind have all committed the same offences
against civilization and International law
! for which eneZuelA was called to account
| The Powers of Europe have claims against
| all these countries which are on all tours with
| the claims they urged against Venezuela
| There is no apparent reason why. at any
moment, similar action should not BIO taken
against them
| Venezuela strained the patience of the Powers
! a little farther than her neighbors but most
| of them have already nearly reached the
breaking point The Governments of Europe
| have demanded satisfaction AGAIN ana again
| from the republics mentioned for the murder
! OF their subjects during political troubles,
| for unpaid indemnties for repudiated lOanst
for tn. spolation Of foreign merchants, and
II hundred other offences OF the same charao-
| ter Always they are met by excuses. worth
| less promises. or impudent refusals to pay
| and their patience with the offenders u
| standing wonder to foreign residents IN the
| West Indies and along the Caribbean sea-
| board
During several years spent in these ooun-
and enjoyed the opportunity Of discussing
| it with the leading statesmen OF Jamaica,
Trinidad. Hayti. Colombia, Venezuela, and
the present state OF affairs cannot continue.
and that some great change is looming In the
with the development Of foreign COM
merce in these regions, said one of the. lead
ing British officials In Trinidad to me recently,
the exploitation OF Latin America by pohtiSal
| question Ia, whether Amer lea will undertake
the task OF esta blishing law and order. or
whether. by pursuing her present policy, she
once for ali, to shatter the Monroe Doctrine
and colonize South America.
Gen Fouchard. the only wise and responsl-
ia similar IN aay We we Begin
lose our national independence, Day by day
| that the patience Of the Powers is almost OK
| hausted. and 80 do the Governments OF other
Latin hsx1; American republics which act like
From n study OF the question on the spot.
one is forced to the conclusion that the only
way permanently to safeguard the Monroe
| Doctrine la for America to come boldly Tor
ward and guarantee 10 Europe the preserva-
ton Of law and order throughout Latin Amer
| lea. This sounds like large proposition, but
| the question is a vast one anyway, ana ar
engagements might be made 10 mitigate the
responsibility Of America.
For example. it should be possible to secure
the cooperation OF Latin American Powers
| which have manifested u desire Tor orderly
civilization and commercal expansion
refer particularly to Mexico, Chile, and Ar.
America in keeping their ill-behaved SISTERS IN
order? IL SO. their assistance would be IN
! valua able by reason of their strategic posltoh
Americans may ask. Why should we take
all this trouble and risk Has not the Venee;;
zuelan matter shown that the Powers Will
care how much they eoerce Latin America,
| provided they take no territory. This is all
very we'll. so far as 1t goes. but how for does
sbe not he o. .ns
There will come time when the European
Powers. enraged by some peculiarly atrocious
On tine par, of L at the o
the sword. and that republic will have no
money TO pay and no means OF raising any ny,
What VIII happen them What Of r.paIa,9
| Venezuela Is now finding 1t hard enough 10
get the cash she needs and some OF the other
! republics have drifted into a financial position
even worse. 1t is high time for, America TO
reconsider her attitude. The Monroe Rqo-
trine will not be permanently tolerated by
| Europe unless America realizes the respopsl-
| bties which that doctrine places upon her
| In relation to the worlds commerce ana
| civilization.
There, is another aspect Of the aues M1n
| to the American people There Is no people
in the world more ready to take np'the cause
| Of oppressed communities "eH fur away e.
Paris is Their tears have howed h ana t nSsr
the misfortunes of the Armenians. me Kox-
manian jews and the victims 81 hshlhen
Do they ever stop to reflect that in COLOMBIA
infinitely worse atrocities happen daily.
and the common people are reduced oy
bandit soldiery TO a condition 81 misery
p pnIpds "n'auaIled anywhere '''' III '"'
The recent civil wars in Colombia and
| Hayti, like the revolution now onumE ~
finish by seken.nE atrocities Those who
| live in these countries are unwilling witnesses
| OF scenes which they dare not describe 70 o., =
civilized and humane puol" rcv pItnrs t :" be-
related in print Yet they happ,n daily IN
the worse governed OF the Latin Antylcan
republics Surely Amercst VIII s sbn, c, sDl,
dec.nty wash her hands, like Pilnte, saving
she is innocent OF the blood and misery az
her doors. and then rebnke russia ana 'o'"
| mania for ill-treating the jews
NV views on the subject are those OF 4
British West Indian. and very. possibly VIII
not commend them.slyss TO ,ne A All srIn
Observation, and are shared by w. most
thoughtful foreigners who have studied me
on The spot the h s sfAe West Tn Rs
toward America, and a desire TO see her reach