Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1905-12-01
A PAN-AMERICAN CONGRESS-.

The next congress of American re-
publics will meet in the capital Of
Brazil and it is announced that it will
be attended by Secretary Root. 1t is
stated that the unprecedented step
which the secretary of state has de-
termned ON in leaving the United States
ON diplomatic errand is the first def
mite marking of the institution of for
eign policy so far as the republics of
this hemisphere are concerned. 1t is
understood that what Mr.. Root will en-
deavor TO do in connection with the con-
gress of republics is to create better
conception of the Monroe doctrine and
fuller recognition Of the obligations
Latin-American republics, as well as
the protection which it gives them. 1t
is said that the secretary of state has
formulated n definite, comprehensive
policy to work out which has the full
support of the president. Its central
idea is that the obligations are mutual
between the protecting nation and the
nations protected under the Monroe doc
trine.
1t is undoubtedly desirable that the
southern republics be given a better
understanding than they now seem gen
orally to have respecting the nature of
that doctrine, as now interpreted. APP
parenty most of the republics take the
view that while they are assured of pro-
lection against foreign aggression, there
is no obligation resting upon them to
80 conduct themselves and to so regard
their duties towards foreign nations
as to avoid conflicts that may
render necessary invoking the Monroe
doctrine. There have been numerous
instances indicating this TO be the view
of some of the southern republics. Pres
ident Roosevelt has on several occasions
pointed out that there are mutual obli-
gations that while the United States
assures protection to the sister republics
| against any foreign aggression that
should threaten their territory or the
| maintenance VI NICll IOllllNui lhslllu-
tions, it at the same time expects them
to so act toward foreign nations as not
| to provoke aggression.
1t is manifestly of the greatest i'm
pOrtance that this should be clearly and
fully understood 1t will be conducive
to better relations between the United
States and the other American republics
II the latter shall learn that the protec-
ton accorded by the Monroe doctrine
does not give them license TO disregard
all international obligations and conduct
themselves in n way TO incite hostility
on the part of foreign nations. They
should understand that they owe con
sideratiOn TO the protecting republic and
must not willfully and wantonly involve
it in trouble with other countries. Our
government will steadfastly adhere to
the principle declared more than eighty
years ago and which is practically recog-
nized by all the nations. That is a fea-
ture of the policy of the United States
which is as firmly adhered to today as
at any time since President Monroe an
nounced it. Its Interpretation may have
undergone some change. Perhaps its
scope has been somewhat widened. But
its vital nature remains. While thus
adhering to the doctrine the United
States has a right TO expect that those
countries to which It applies will dc
nothing 10 abuse the assurance of protec