Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-03-12
ARGENTINA'S
DID NOT SEEK IN ALLIANCE
WITH THE UNITED STATES.
Foreign Minister Drago Simply outlin-
ed Government Views on the Forci-
BILE Collection of Public Debts.

The following statement has been made
public at the legation of the Argentine Re-
public:
Recent publications referring to the note
of instructions sent by the Argentine gov
eminent to its minister In Washington, 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 that it's proposal was rejected
by the Secretary of State.
I'm fact, the dispa tch of DIR. Drago, min
lister of foreign relations of the Argentine
Republic. aimed only to explain to his dip
lomatic agent in Washington the views of
his home government relative to the CO.
ercitive collection of public debts of Ameri-
can states by European nations. and in
structed him to convey those views to Sec
rotary 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 char
acter of many of the obligations contracted
by the governments of the minor South
American republics, the Argentine govern
ment has felt that there is great danger to
the peace of the continent if the compul-
sorry demand of immediate payment of pub
lie debts or national obligations is to be
accepted in silence, without discrimination,
to control and dominate the weaker and
struggling states of Central and South
America
ION this point the Argentine minister of
foreign relations in his note remarks that
the capitalist who supplies any money'to a
foreign state always takes into considera-
tion the resources of the country and the
more less probabilities that the obliga-
lions will be filled without difficulty DR..
Drago says further on this: The compul-
sorry and immediate demand for payment
at a given moment of public debt by
means of force would not produce other
than the ruin of the weaker nations and the
absorption of their government altogether
with all its inherent faculties by the power
full nations of the earth DR.. Drago also
cites enunciations by Hamilton and pro-
visions of the Constitution of the United
States In this connection.
DIR. Drago explicitly dsclaims any inten-
ton to defend bad faith or irregularities
and deliberate and voluntary insolvency.
We do not pretend, neither can we pre-
tend, he says, that these nations shall oc-
cupy an exceptional position in their rela-
lions with the European powers, 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 MAIN
tains is the principle already accepted, that
there cannot be European territorial expan-
sion in America or oppression of the people
of this continent, because their unfortunate
to put off the fulfllment of it's obligations.
The principle which maintain is that a
public debt cannot give rise to an armed
Intervention, and much less to the terri
torial occupation of the soil of American
nations by any European power
Complying with his instructions, Minister
Merou left copy of the communication re-
ceived from his minister of foreign rela-
lions with the Secretary of State. In his
reply Mr.. Hay did not express assent or
dissent to the doctrine of public law set
forth in the note Of the Argentine minister
of foreign relations. He cited the minister
to the messages of the President of De-
cember 3. 1901. and December 2. 1902.
Secretary Hay stated further that 'ad-
vocating and adhering in practice in ques-
lions concerning itself to the resort of in
ternational arbitration in settlement of con-
troversies not adjustable by the orderly
- treatment of diplomatic negotiation, the
government of the United States would al
ways be glad to see the questions of the
justice of claims by one state against an
other growing out of individual wrongs or
national obligations, as well as the guar
antees for the execution of whatever award
may be made. left 10 the decision of an i'm