The Washington times., 1905-08-11

The President then made his address
He said:
Today I wish to speak to you on one
feature OF our national foreign policy
and one feature of our national domestic
policy.
THE Monroe Doctrine is not a part oe
international law. But it is the funda-
mental feature OF our entire foreign
policy so far as the Western Hemis-
phere is concerned, and 1t has more and
more been meeting with recognition
abroad.
THE reason why 1t is meeting with this
recognition is because we have not al
lowed it 70 become fossilized, but have
adapted our construction of it tn meet
the growing. changing needs of this
hemisphere. FossilizaUon. of course.
means death. whether 10 an individual.
a government. or doctrine.
Right Needs Support.
1T is out of the question TO claim a
rlght and yet shirk the responsibility
for exercising that right. When we an
nounce policy such as the Monroe
Doctrine we thereby commit ourselves
10 accepting the consequences of the
policy, and these consequences from time
to time alter,
Let us look for a. moment at what
the Monroe Doctrine really is. 1t for
bids the territorial encroachment of
non-AneT1can powers on American SOIL,
Its purpose is partly to secure this ma
ton against seeing great military pow
ers obtain new footholds in the West
ern Hemisphere. and partly 10 secure
TO our feliow-republlcs south OF US the
chance 10 develop along their own lines
without being oppressed or conquered
by non-Amertcan powers.
''As we have grown more and more
e-v-E4 II of IL
has been received with more and more
respect; but what has tended most to
give the doctrine standing among the
nations is cur growing Willingness 10
show that we not only mean what We
say and are prepared 70 back IL up, but
that we mean to recognize. our obliga-
tions to foreign peoples no less than TO
insist upon our own rights.
It's Conditions.
we cannot permanently adhere to
the Monroe Doctrine unless we succeed
il, making il evident in the first place
that we do not intend 10 treat 1t in any
shane or way as an excuse for ag-
grandizement on our part at the ex-
pense of the republics to the south Of
Us: second. that we do not intend TO
Kermit 1t TO be used ay any of these
II publics as a shield to protect that re-
Iublic from the consequences OF its own
ll.isdeeds against foreign nations; third,
TEaI 1ndSnlucn as DF TINS uOCLA hit VIC
prevent other nations from interfering
on this side of the water, we shall our
selves in good faith try to help those or
our sister republics which need such
As regards the first point we must
recognize the fact that in some South
American countries there has Dee1l
much suspicion lest we should interpret
the Monroe doctrine in some way mimi
cal to their interests.
Now let it 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 re
publics south Of US which have already
reached such a point OF STABILITY, order
selves, although as yet hardly con
sciously. among the guarantors OF this
doctine.
No Encroachments.
NO stable and growing American re-
public wishes TO see some great non
American military power acquire terri
tory in its neighborhood.
1t is the interest Of all of US on this
continent that no such event, snould -oc-
cur. and in addition to our own re-
public there are now already republics
in the regions south OF us which have
reached a point OF prosperity and pow
er that enables them TO be eonsiderab ble
factors IN maintaining tnls doctrihe
which. is 50 much 10 the advantage OF
all OF US. It must be understood ina |
under no circumstances will the United
States use the Monroe Doctrine as
cloak fer territorial aggression.
should any of our neighborst no mat
ter how turbulent, how disTegardful of
our rights. finally get into such posi-
tion that the utmost limits OF cur TOT TOT
bearance are reached, all the people
south OF US may rest assured that no
action will ever be taken save what Is
absolutely demanded by our self-Te-
- - will not q
form of territorial ACKNOWLEDGEMENT on
our part. and that 1t viii only be taken
AT all with the most extreme reluctance
and not without having exhausted every
effort 20 avert 1t.
The Second Point.
LAS TO the second point. If a republic
TO the south of Us commits tort
against a foreign nation. such. for in
stance. as wrongful action against the
persons Of citizens Of Elat nation then
the Monroe Doctrine does not force US
to interfere to prevent punishment OF
the tort. save TO see that the punish
nent does not directly or indirectly as
sumo the form OF territorial ocCupa ton
of the offending country.
The case is more difficult when the
trouble comes from the failure to meet
contFactual obligations. Our own Gov
eminent has always refused to enforce
such contractual obligations on behalf
Of its citizens by the appeal 10 arms.
1t is much TO De wished that all for
eign governments would take the same
view. But at present ths country
would certainly not be willing to go 10
war TO prevent = fOreiGn government
from collecting 4 just debt or to back
vi some one of our sister republics in
refusal to pay just debts; and the
alternative may in any case prove 10 be
THAT We shall ourselves undertake to
bring about some arrangement by
which so much as is possible Of the
lust obligations shall be paid
personally. ] should always prefer
y see this country step in and put
Trough such an arrangement rather
than let any foreign country undertake
II
Protect Custom Houses.
Il do not want to see any foreign
power take possession. permanently or
temporarily. of the custom houses of an
American republic in order to enforce
its obligations. and the alternative may
al any time be that ne shall be forced
L. do so ourselves.