The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-06-06
1t Is Likely to Cause Trouble at
Rio JaneirO
When the Pan-American Con-
gress Begins Deliberations.
IT OPPOSES FORCE
In the Collection of Interna-
tiOnal Obligations.
Secretary Root Is Expected to
Smooth Out Matters.

Washington, June 6.-Argentina is not
pleased with the program agreed upon
for the third Pan-Americal- congress TO
be held in Rio Janeiro in July, and it
Will require all the skill of which Sec
rotary Root is possessed to prevent the
withdrawal OF several of the latin
American republics from the congress.
Although Argentina is more dissatisfied
than any other South or Central Ameri-
can power there are several republics
which are far from pleased with the
program and sympathize with the slight
which Argentina feels.
The Drago doctrine IS the cause of
Argentina's grievance. 1t was the de-
sire of Mr.. Portela, the Argentina min
lister, that the Drago doctrine should be
one of the subjects considered at the Rio
Janeiro congress. This doctrine, which
was promulgated by the celebrated Ar
gentine jurist, L. F. Drago. at the time
Of the Venezuelan blockade by Germany,
Great Britain and Italy, holds the force
can not be used by one power to collect
money owed TO its citizens by another
power.
After much discussion the committee
on program for the congress prepared
the following section relating to the gen
eral subject covered by the Drago doc
tTine:
"A resolution recommending that the
oCCOAlQ peace GOllEI6uCG at ne Hague
be requested to consider the extent to
which the use of force for the collec-
ton of public debts as admissible"
This statement of the subject was
very distasteful to Argentina and sew
eral other powers. It practically admit
ted that force is justif1able in some
cases and provoked a great deal of com
ment. The result was the restatement
of the subject in the following compro-
mise terms:
A resolution recommending that the
second peace conference at The Hague
be requested to consider whether and
If at all, to what extent the use of force
for the collection of public debts is ad-
missible"
This statement does not grant that
the use of force is ever justified, but is
not clear statement of the subject
covered by the Drago doctrine. in the
opinion of a number of the countries
which are to participate in the can
gress.
Mr.. Drago. who was named by Ar
gentina as one of its delegates TO the
Rio Janeiro congress, is reported to
have announced that he does not care
to attend and participate in the dis
cussion of the programme as agreed
upon. Under the rules agreed upon a
change in programme can be effected
a Rio Janeiro by the vote of two
thirds of the countries represented
and consequently there viii doubtless
D6 SIICHR ellOIl 10 make CHdHS6S III
case the countries which are dissatis-
fed participate.
Many South American diplomats be-
leve the Drago doctrine should not be
submitted to The Hague for consider
alton. but should be adopted by the
powers on this continent without re-
gard to what European countries may
have TO say about it. Several of the
powers in the western part of South
America are said to be in sympathy
with Argentina's position on the Drago
doctrine and interesting developments
are expected.
Several other sections of the pro-
gramme are also unsatisfactory to a
number of the powers which viii par
ticipate in the deliberations. The arbi-
tration section does not please Bolivia
and several of its neighbors who want
ed the section made so broad that it
would also cover the disputes in the
past as well as those which may arise
hereafter Colombia and several of
the other western republics also de-
sired the consideration of questions re-
lating to commerce passing over boun-
daries and the regulation of navigation
on streams flowing through two or
more countries. but these subjects we're
not passed by the programme commit
tee and can be discussed a t Rio Janeiro
only by consent Of two-thirds of the
powers REPRESENTED.