Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-08-11
Exposition of Our National
Foreign Policy
BY THE PRESIDENT
IN AN ADDRESS AT CHAUTAUQUA,
NEW YORK, TODAY.
American Attitude Thoroughly Def1n-
ed and True Spirit of This NATIONS
Government Exploited.

Roosevelt delivered at Chautauqua, New
York, today:
Today I wish to speak to you on one fea-
ture Of our national foreign policy and one
feature. OF our national domestic policy.
The Monroe doctrine Is not part Of in
ternational law. But it is the fundamental
feature of our entire foreign policy so far
as the western hemisphere is concerned,
and 1t has more and more been meeting
with recognition abroad. The reason why
It is meeting with this recognition is be-
cause We have not allowed 1t to become
fossilzed. but have adapted our construc-
ton of 1t to meet the growing, changing
needs of this hemisphere. Fossilization, or
course. means death. whether to an indi-
vldual, a government a doctrine.
1t Is out of the question to claim right
and yet shrk the responsibility for exer-
Csing that right. When announce
policy such the Monroe doctrine we
thereby commit ourselves to accepting the
consequences of the policy. and these con-
sequences from time to time alter.
Let us look for moment at what the
Monroe doctrine really Is. 1t forbids the
territorial encroachment Of non-American
powers on American soil. Its puI pose is
partly to secure this nation against seeing
great military powers obtain new footholds
in the western hemisphere. and partly to
secure to our feliow-republics south of us
the chance to develop along their own lines
without being oppressed or conquered by
non-American powers. AS we have grown
more and more powerful advocacy of
this doctrine has been received with more
and more respect. but what has tended
most to give the doctrine standing among
the nations Is growing willingness to
show that We not only mean what we say
and are prepared to back 1t up, but that We
mean to recognize obligations to for
egn peoples no less than to insist upon
own rights.
The Monroe Doctrine.
We cannot permanently adhere to the
Monroe doctrine unless we succeed in max
ing It evident in the first place that do
not intend to treat it in any shape or way
as an excuse for ACKNOWLEDGMENT on our
part al the expense of the republics to the
south of US; second that we do not intend to
permit ii to be used by any of these republics
shield to protect that republic from
the consequences Of its own misdeeds
against foreign nations; third. that mas
much as by this doctrine prevent other
nations from interfering this side of the
water. we shall ourselves In good faith try
TO help those Of our sister republics which
need such help upward toward peace and
order
AS regards the first point we must rec
ogntze the fact that in some South Ameri-
can countries there has been much suspi-
cion lest we should interpret the Monroe
OOClrlnt IN some way inimfCal to their n
terests- Now let 1t be understood once for
all that no just and orderly government on
this continent has anything to fear from
US. There are certain OF the republics
south of us which have already reached
such point of stability. order and pros.
perity that they are themselves, although
as yet hardly consciously, among the guar
antors of this doctrine. No stable and
growing American republic wishes to see
some great non-American military power
acquire territory in its neighborhood 1t is
the interest of all of US on this continent
that no such event should occur and in adj
ntion TO our own republic there are now
already republics in the regions south of
US Whlch nave reached point of prosper
ity and power that enables them to be con-
siderable factors in maintaining this doc
trine which is SO much to the advantage of
all of us.
No Territorial Aggression.
1t must be understood that under no cir
cumstances will the United States usa tho
Monroe doctrine a cloak for territorial
aggression. Should any of our neipbhors
no matter how turbulent. how disregardful
OF our rights, finally get into such a posi-
zion that the utmost limits of our forbear-
ahce are reached. all the people south of
us may rest assured that no action will
ever he taken save what Is absolutely de-
manded by our self-respect; that this action
VIII not take the form of territorial aggran-
olzement on our part, and that 1t will only
be taken at all with the most extreme re-
1uCtauce and not without having exhausted
every effort to avert It.
AS to the second point. II a republic to the
south OF us commits tort against a for
fign nation. such. for instance as wrong
Sul action against the persons of citizens
OF that nation. then the Monroe doctrine
does not force to interfere to preyeut
punishment of the tort, save to see thai
the punishment does not directly or indi-
Tectly assume the form of territorial orcu-
patton of the offending country. The case
IS more difficult when the trouble comes
from the failure to meet ContractuaI obliea
lions. our own government has ALWAYS
refused to enforce such contractual obi
cations behalf of its citizens by the an
peal to arms. 1t is much to he wished that
all foreign governments would take The
same view. But at the present this conn
try weuld certainly not be willing to 20 to
war to prevent a foreign government from
collecting just debt or to back up some
one of our sister republics in a refusal to
pay Just debts; and the alternative may in
any case prove to be that we shall our
selves undertake 20 bring about some ar
rangement by which so much as Is DOS
sible of the just obligations shall be pa
Personally | should always prefer to see
this country step IN and put through such
an arrangement rather than let any for
eign country undertake 1t.
Enforcing Obligations.
CO not want to any foreign power
take possession permanently or temporarily
or the custom houses of American re-
public in order to enforce its obligations
and the alternative may at any time be
that shall be forced to do so ourselves
Finally. and what Is, In my view. really
the most important thing of ALL ii is our
duty. so far as We are able. to try to help
upward our weaker brothers. Just as there
has been a gradual growth of the ethical
element in the relations OF one individual
10 another. so that with all the faults of
our Christian civilization il yet remains
true that We are, no matter how slowly,
more and more coming TO recognize the
duty of bearing one another's burdens. sim
Harry | believe that the ethical element Is
by degrees entering into the dealings OF
one nation with another
Under strain of emotion caused by sudden
disaster this feeling Is very evident A fam
1ne or a plague In one country brings much
sympathy and some assistance from other
countries. Moreover, We are now beginning
TO recognize that weaker peoples have a
claim upon us. even when the appeal is
made not to our emotions by some sudden
calamity. but to our consciences by a long
continuing condition OF affairs.
do not mean to say that nations have
more than begun to approach the proper
a..Yr-