El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1911-03-14

extend its old or to acquire new tern
tory on the American continents, and
that any attempt by any country to
disregard this policy would be looked
upon in the light of a hostile act to-
wards the United States.
In his message &c congress in De-
cember, 1923, Mr.. Monroe said: with
the existing colonies or dependencies
of any European power. we have not
interfered and shall not interfere. But
with the governments who have de-
clared their independence, and main
tanned it. and whose independence we
have, on great consideration and just
principles, acknowledged, we could not
view any interposition for the purpose
of depressing them, or in controlling in
any other manner their destiny. b. any
European power, in any other light
than as the manifestation of an un-
friendly disposition towards the United
States. The American continents,
by the free and independent condition
which they have assumed and main
tain. are henceforth not to be con-
sidered as subjects for future colonies.
tion by any European power
1t is a declaration against further
ownership Of territory in this hemis-
phere by any European power, and in
guaranty of the integrity of the terri
torial possessions of each.
Several times the United States has
been on the eve Of conflict with for
eign, powers relative to the enforce
ment of this doctrine, which ii has
resolutely maintained. A notable case
was that of 1861, when France, England
and Spain sent warships TO the Mexi
can ports to enforce the collection of
claims due their citizens by Mexico,
the payment Of which president Juarez
had suspended. The claims were paid
and the forces of England and Spain
returned home; but Louis Napoleon
taking advantage Of the fact that the
war. landed troops and placed Maxi
milan on the throne. The United
States protested, but was unable to
do anything further until the close of
the war. Troops were then massed
on the Rio Grande, and Napoleon was
told to withdraw his forces from Mex
leo He complied at once, and poor
Maxirnilian was left to his fate This
was a case exactly in point. where the
doctrine as laid down by Monroe was
directly disregarded, but when the
United States was in position TO en-
force its demands the principle as pro-
mulgated was strictly upheld
Again in 1895. during the second adj
ministration of Mr.. Cleveland, was
there a direct test OF the doctrine. For
a number of years there had been a
dispute between Great Britain and
Venezuela on the question Of the boun-
Diary line between the latter country
and British Guiana. Great Britain
would consent to no settlement with
out doing the most glazing Injustice
to Venezuela. The United States had
insisted upon giving the weak repub-
lie fair deal, but the English per-
sisted in pushing unreasonable claims
against Venezuela until Mr.. Cleveland
sent a ringing message to congress
on the matter, and although backed
by a congress politically hostile to
him, he brought the English to terms.
and by arbitration Venezuela was
given just and deserved recognition.
Not a great while after this incident
Venezuela became involved in dis
pute with Germany relative. to debts
owed German citizens, and refused to
pay A German warshfp compelled the
settlement of these claims, but as there
was no attempt at conquest of terri
tory. the United States did not feel
called upon to interfere.
The destruction of foreign property
in Mexico by the insurrectos during
the existing disturbances raises a ques-
tion very similar to that involved in
the trouble between Germany and
Venezuela. The Intervention of Eng
land or France, or of any foreign pow