The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-02-16
MONROE DOCTRINE
MEANS BIG STICK
Menace of Offense to Powers by
Little Nations Mi ht Bring
War.
MEANWHILE CASTRO Is
IN DEFIANT MOOD
President of Venezuela Takes
Radical Action Against
American Interests.
New York Sun Special Service.

New York Sun Special Service
Washington, Feb. 16.-President
Roosevelt has put responsibility for war
between the United States and one or
more European powers In defense OF the
Monroe doctrine squarely upon the SEN
ate. He does not desire to be held &C
countable if such complications arise rs
may cause fighting to prevent the ac-
QUESTION Of territory by a foreign ma
tion on the western hemisphere or an
abandonment of the principles Of the
Monroe doctrine.
In transmitting to the. senate the
treaty negotiated between Minister
Dawson and the premier, Sanchez, for
guaranteeing the integrity OF SantO Do
mingo, supervising that republic s
finances, the president, in a special mes
sage, late yesterday afternoon, fully set
forth his reasons for having engaged
in this unusual undertaking.
!, Debts Owed to Europe.
He called the attention of the senate
10 the conditions prevailing in the
South and Central American republics.
These governments, he said, had con
tracted Indebtedness abroad far beyond
! their means to repay: In view OF ting
requested the United States to assist
them in collecting the sums due, or to
permit them to secure payment in their
own way.
The president believed that time
was rapidly approaching when the
money borrowed from European brokers
must be repaid or the governments
whose citizens had advanced it will
take steps to secure reimbursement. The
question of defending or abandoning
the Monroe doctrine will then arise, and
1t shoruld be decided now.
Collection by Force.
He believed that in the immediate
future, unless the United States exer-
cises general supervision over some of
the South and Central American repub.
lies, foreign nations will become so ln1,
patient that they will begin the collec-.
ton Of their claims in their own
way, and if they cannot secure money
they will seize territory.
The president pointed out as to Santo
Domingo that claims of many years
standing remain unadiusted, and no eff
E fort is being made to lqu idate them.
1T is apparent that nothing will be
done in that direction without supervis-
ion by the United States, because con-
tinual revolutions impoverish the. coun-
try, and make the accumulation OF
funds to pay debts impossible. He
called attention to the further fact that
the United, States is especially inter
ested in the case Of Santo Domingo, as
An American Hful HIS d. CldlIl VI Pf,oOO,~
600 awaiting settlement.
=. Purpose Of Treaty.
The purpose of the present treaty, he
said, was to supervise the affairs of
Santo Domingo for limited period and
then turn matters over to the govern
ment Of the republic with a warning
not to again become involved with for
elgn nations.
The treaty accompanying the letter
from the president provides that the
integrity of Santo Domingo shall be
maintained by the United States. This
government shall assume control Of the
customs houses and collect the revenues
The four ports of entry on the north
paying the claims Of the Santo Domingo
Improvement company, under an arbi
trail agreement already in effect. The
ports of entry on the south side Of thu
island will be set aside for the payment
of foreign crefditors. A certain per
centage of the revenues collected will
be turned over to the government o:
Santo Domingo for it's maintenance an(
the remaining percentage will be dis
tributed pro rata among the creditors
Tt is estimated that twenty-f five year
will be required to complete a liquida
ulated that before becoming operative
the treaty must be ratified by tn
United States senate and the Santo Do
Mingan congress.
ii Scant Courtesy In Senate.
ii The special message Of the presj
dent, transmitting the treaty to the sen
ate, was received with rather scan
courtesy yesterday. But today it wa
; ordered made public, together with tn
/ protocol, letter from John B. Moore
| 4 formerly assistant secretary of state
4 which gives a statement regarding tn
4 award under the former protocol, an
the award of the commission which set
| tied the claims of the San Domingo In
: \ prOvement company.
:, The senate went into executive SEES
~ sion Immediately after morning bus
] Y ness. at which time this action wa
taken.
The message, which is of nearly $50
words, is largely a discussion of tn
rights and duties of the United State
under the Monroe doctrine, and tn
president says the protocol affords
practical test of the efficiency of tn
! United States government in maintain
ing the doctrine.
CASTRO UNRULY AGAIN