The Washington times., 1905-12-05
MONROE DOCTRINE
An Efficient Instrument When Adjusted to CHANGING Com
ditions-It Compels South American Countries to Full
fill Obligations as Well Offering Protection

with all the world. bat perhaps rraoss
OF all with the other peoples OF THIS
American Continent
There are. OF course. limits To the
wrongs which any seIf-respecting na-
tlon can endure. 1t is always possible
that wrong actions toward this nation.
or toward citizens of this nation. !, in
some state unable to keep order among
It's own people. unable 70 secure Justice
from outsiders. and unwilling to do ius-
tice to those outsiders who treat il we'll.
may result IN our having TO take action
10 protect our rights: but such action
Will not be taken with a view 10 terri
torial aggression. and it will be taken
al all only with ,treme reluctance and
when 1t has become evident that every
! otner resource has been exhausted
Moreover, We must make it evident
that We do not intend TO permit the
Monroe Doctrine TO be used by any
nation on this continent as a shield
to protect 1t from the consequences of
its own misdeeds against foreign na-
tions
II a republic TO the south OF US COM
mits q tort against foreign nation.
such as an outrage against a citizen
or that nation, then the Monroe Doctrine
does not force US to interfere to prevent
punishment OF the tort. save to see
that the punishment does not assume
the form Of territorial occupation in any
shape.
A More Difficult Case.
The case is more difficult when it re-
fers TO cOntractuel obligation Our
own Government has always refused TO
enforce such contractual obligations on
hah hal Of
arms. II Is much to be wished that all
foreign governments would take the
same view But they do not; and in
consequence we are liable at any time
10 be brought face to face with dis
agreeable alternatives.
On the one hand, this country would
certainly decline TO go to war TO pre-
vent foreign government from col
lseting just debt; on the other hand,
it is very inadvisab1e to permit any
foreign power to take possession, even
temporarily, of the custom houses Of
an American Republic in order tc en-
force the payment of its obligations;
for such temporary occupation might
turn Into permanent occupation.
The only escape from these aIterna-
tives may at any time be that we must
ourselves undertake. to bring about
some arrangement by which so much
as possible of just obligation shall be
paid.
This Country Should Lead.
It is far better that this country
should put through such an arrange
ment. rather than allow any foreign
country to undertake it. To do so in
sures the defaulting republic from hav-
ing to pay debts Of an improper char
acter under duress. while il also insures
honest creditors OF the republic from
being passed by in she interest sof dis
honest or grasping creditors.
Moreover. for the United States 10
take such position offers the only
clash with some foreign power. The
position is. therefore, in the interest OF
peace as well as IN the interest of
justice. 1t is of benefit TO our people; II
is OF benefit 20 fOreiS-S= -~eopies, and
most of all IL is really Of benefit TO the
people of the country concerned
This brings me 10 what should be one
OF the fundamental objects of the Mon
roe Doctrine. We must ourselves in
good faith try TO help upward toward
peace and order those OF our sister re-
publics which need such help. Just as
there has been n gradual growth of the
ethical element in the relations OF one
Individual TO another, SO we are. even
though slowly. more and more coming
TO recognize the dSty of bearing one
anOther's burdens. not only as among
individuals. but also as among nations