The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-04-03


 . uals. .! le To go far with the Monroe Doc |. c Urine, the American nation must Sl . speak softly and carry big S 1. stick.' ' s 1sk ss sH ss Hs sss ss s sss :! and to operate, the Panama Canal, which had already heen begun in the territory of Colombia by French company. The rights of this company were accordingly obtained and a treaty negotiated with the republic of Colombia. This treaty has just been ratified by the Senate. It re- serves all of Colombias rights. while guaranteeing all of our own and those of neutral nations, and specifically per- mits us to take any and all measure for the defense of the canal, and for the pres ervation of our interests, whenever in our judgment an exigency may arise which calls for action on our part. In other words these two treaties, and the legislation to carry them out. have re- suited in our obtaining on exactly the terms we desired the rights and privileges which we had so long sought in vain. These treaties are among the most im- portant that we have ever negotiated in their effects upon the future welfare of this country, and mark a memorable tri- umph of American dipiomacy-one of those fortunate triumphs. moreover, which rebounds to the benefit of the en- tire woHld.
 The Venezuelan Blockade. About the same time trouble arose in connection with the republic of Venezuela because of certain wrongs alleged to have been committed. and debts overdue. by this republic to citizens of various for eign powers, notably England. Germany and Italy. After failure to reach an agreement these powers began block ade of the Venezuelan coast and con- dition of quas-war ensued The concern of our government was of course not to interfere needlessly in any quarrel so far as it did not touch our interests or our honor and not to take the attitude of protecting from coercion any power un- less we were willing to espouse the guar rel of that power. but to keep an atti- tude of watchful vigilance and see that there was no infringement Of the Mon roe doctrine-no requirement of territorial rights by a European power at the ex- pensc of weak sister repubnc-whether this acquisition might take the shape of an outright and avowed seizure of terri tory or of the exercise of control which would in effect be equivalent to such seiz- ure. This attitude was expressed in the two following published memoranda. the first being the letter addressed by the Secretary of State to the German ambas- sador. the second the conversation with the Secretary of State reported by the British amba ssador:
 Department of State.
 
 His Excellency, pr. won Holleben, etc. ::
 Dear Excellency-I inclose a memo randum by way of reply to that which you did me the honor to leave with me on Saturday and "En;tbsy,;N am as eyer; Yours
 John Hay.
 'The President in his message of the Sd of December 1901. used the following language:
 "'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
 The President further said:
 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 We do not guarantee any state against punishment of 1t msconducts itself pro- vided that punishment does not take the form of the acquisition of territory by any non-American power
 The German Declaration.
 His Excellency the German Ambassa- dor on his recent return from Berlin. conveyed personally to the President the assurance of the German Emperor that His Majesty's Government had no pur- pose or intention to make even the smallest acquisition of territory on the South American continent or the islands adjacent. This voluntary and friendly declaration was afterwards repeated to the Secretary of State, and was received by the President and the people of the United States in the frank and cordial spirit in which 1t was offered. In the memorandum of the 11th of December, His Excellency. the German Ambassador, repeats these assurances as follows: We declare especially that under no circum- stances do we consider in our proceedings the acquisition or the permanent ocupa- tion of Venezuelan territory
 Tn the said memorandum of the 11th of December, the German Government informs that of the United States that it has certain just claims for money and for damages wrongfuily withheld from German subjects by the Government of Venezuela. and that it proposes to take certain coercive measures described in the memorandum 10 enforce the payment of these just claims.
 The President of the United States appreciating the courtesy of the German c 1vernment in making him acquainted with the state of affairs referred to- and not regarding himself as called upon to enter into the considera ton of the claims in question. believes that no measures Will be taken in this matter by the agents of the German Government which are not in accordance with the weI-known pur- pose above set forth, of His Majesty the German Emperor"
 Sir Michael Herbert to the Marquis
 of Landsdowne.
 Washington, November 13. 1902
 "I communicated to Mir. Hay this morning the substance of Your Lord ships telegram of the 11th instant
 His EXcellency stated in reply, that the United States Government. although they regretted that European powers should use force against Central and South American countries. could not ob- ject to their taking steps to obtain re- dress for injuries suffered by their sub Iects. provided that no acquisition of ter ritory was contemplated.'
 Both powers assured us in explicit terms that there was not the slightest intention on their part to violate the principles of the Monroe Doctrine. and this assurance was kept with an hon orabIe good faith which merits full ac- knowledgm ent on our part. At the same time, the existence of hostllities in re- zion so near our own borders was fraught with such possibilities of danger In the future that 1t was obviously no less our duty to ourselves than our duty to hu- manity to endeavor to put an end to that. Accordingly, by an offer of our good services in spirit of frank friendliness to all the parties concerned. a spirit in which they quickly and cor