The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1910-07-26
MONROE S9CTRINE
T0BE STRETCHED
Sicaraguan Crisis Is Expected To
Compel U. S. To Give This Prin-
+, ciple New Application.

tude OF European powers-especiall
Germany-toward Nicaragua have
brought the Monoe Doctrine into the
worlds spotlight again and the i'm
preston Is strong that II will soon be
given new application.
The Monroe Doctrine is an elasti,
diplomatic garnent--not 80 elastic al
the popular Imagination depicts II
OUT capable d SO much stretching
iwhen occasion demands that II will
nj a multitude OF situations however
Inherent Thee has not been an ad
ministration shce Its inception In
whtch this guhing principle has not
been hauled OFT of its historic recess
es 10 do service in connection with
enc difficulty pr another, and indica
4 tions are that President Taft's will
be no exception from this rule.
The Monroe Doctrine Is already
4 spoken OF as a most suitable diplo
matte habilimnt TO enfold the inter.
4 national eyeDre, into which the
chaos OF Nicaragua Is fast developing
while the Unied States restores order
\ and sets tho struggling republic on
It's feet agaii Agitation has already
\ begun, too, n the Pan-American con-
ference on tie part OF the Latin-Amer'
lean governments which owe much OF
4 their develoment to It's existence, to
I make the dctrine-now merely a dec
laration of he United States--a guild
\ ing principe for the entire western
hemisphere Such a political profess
sion OF faih would mark a new era
for the twi Americas.
There islittle doubt that the Mon.
4 roe Doctrie of the present day con-
tains niue that was not contemplat.
4 cd by thepresident who first gave IT
formal exression. Each administra-
ton In cisis has tackled a new mean
fng on II r stretched ali old meaning
to greate lengths until IL has be-
come cat OF many colors, but none
the less sstout garment and showing
no sign wear.
PresidQt Monroe, In his message
OF Dec. d 1923, said-"The occasion
has beer Judged proper for asserting
as a priciple in which the rights and
interests OF the United States are in
yolyed, hat the American continents.
by the free and independent condi-
lions witch they have assumed and
maintai, are henceforth nos to be
consideed as subjects for future col
Onizatio by any European powers
We ow II, therefore, TO candor, and
to the imicable relations existing be-
tween the United States and those
poweB to declare that we should
consier any attempt on their part to
extep their system to any portion
OF It's hemisphere as dangerous 20
our 'eace and safety. With the ex-
istiU colonies or dependencies OF any
Eurpean power we have not inter-
feFs and-ShalL interfere Bat
wit the governments who have de-
claed their independence and main
tailed II, and whose independence we
haze. on great consideration and on
pr1ciples, acknowledged, we could
nc view any interposition for the pur
Pee OF depressing them, or in con-
tplling In any other manner their
dstiny, by any European power, or
Ii any other light than as the mani
fstation OF an unfriendly disposition
pward the United States"
Briefly the Monroe doctrine, as so
ttered, declared against the interpo-
ation OF European powers In the ar.
Airs OF the American States, the pecu-
lar kind Of interposition being that
Undertaken for the purpose OF con.
trolling their political affairs and or
extending TO this hemisphere the sys-
tenn In operation on the continent OF
Eunpe.
Ont OF the Monroe Doctrine, Luis
M. Drago, Argentine minister of for
eigf affairs, evolved the now famous
Draso Doctrine, declaring that the
n. L. LII.
terention nor even the actual occu-
patton of the territory Of American
nations by European power" This
naturally led to another question. II
the United States expressly declared
against the occupation of American
territory by a European power, who
is going TO take the matter in charge
when a country, much the same as
Nicaragua now find herself, persists
in such course that there Is no
prospect that its debts will ever be
paid or is just international obliga-
tons fulfilled?
President Roosevelt. In answer to
this, tacledo on another patch to the
Monroe Doctrine, giving expression to
the function OF police power" TO be
exercised by the United States In such
contingencies.
Chronic wrongdoing," he said In
his message, OF Dec. 6, 1904. cor an
impotence which results In a general
looseniig of the ties of civilized So
ciety, nay In America, as elsewhere,
ultimately require Intervention by
some civilized nation, and In the west
ern hemisphere and adherence OF the
United States to the Monroe Doctrine
may force the United States. however
reluctantly, In fragrant cases OF such
wrongdoing or impotence, to the ex-
ercise OF an international police pow
err"
II may be for President Taft, In
dealing with the Nicaraguan situa-
ton, 70 formulate still another phase
OF the Monroe Doctrine which has not
yet come into view In the diplomatic
experiences Of the United States.
Although President Monroe's name
is attached TO the doctrine. the prin-
ciple underlying II goes further back,
even to the beginning OF the United
States. Washington, In his farewell
address, declared that the policy OF
the United States was 10 avoid en-.
tangling alliances with European pow
ers. The Republican form OF govern
ment was. in contradistinction TO the
form prevailing in
Europe, an ideal for which the colon
lists had fought and to which they
were passionately attached. Any.
thing threatening that ideal was to