The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1912-11-30
WOULD ABOLISH
MONROE DOCTRINE
Admiral Chester, IN Address,
Says the Document
I Is Obsolete.

In advocating the abolishment of the
Monroe doctrine and declaring Presi.
dent Monroe's original document regard
| ing our foreign relations as obsolete.
Admiral Colby NJ Chester. U. S. N, re-
tired, created distinct sensation at a
lecture on the Panama CanaP before
the National Geographic Society at New
Masonic Temple last night.
The applause which greeted the speak
er's remarks on this aii-important ques-
ton, which has always been regarded
as one of the strongest unwrttten
American policies, was not very enthusi-
astic In the audience were many ON
GERS OF the army and navy, high gov
eminent officials, members OF the for
eIgn Diplomatic Corps, and scientists.
Admiral Chester repeated the lecture
on the Panama Canal which he gave
last week at the Belasco, when Presi-
dent Taft was present, and II was after
the fifth part when the change OF reels
took place, that the speaker read a care
fully prepared statement, in which he
set forth his views on the Monroe doc
trine, in part as follows:
For my part / should like to see the
Monroe doctrine policy of the United
States abolished, not by giving up it's
basic principles, but by amending its
| form into a treaty with the republics of
South America so that they should have
not only an interest in its execution,
but responsibility as weR
Document Obsolete.
THE original document enunciated by
President Monroe regarding our foreign
relations is as obsolete to-day as was
the Clayton Bulwer treaty at the time
g: was amended, and no more fits the
present condition that that does. II was
Idesigned ostensibly in the interests OF
both the United States and Of England.
which was, in 1S23 the only constitutional
monarchy in Europe, to guard against
the forcible interference of the holy al
lance between Spain and South Amer
lea. But now that practically every
country in the world Is on a constitu-
t!onal basis there is no more need TO
protect our neighboring republics from a
purely monarchical form of government
than there is TO interfere with the con-
troyersies between themselves. There are
quite as large a number of the people
then comprising the holy alliance ma
tiOns who are now our felIow-citizens as
the number of the AnglO-Saxon race who
| are in proportionately as large numbers
| in South America. There, is no more
necessity TO try to prevent their at
tacking South America now than there is
! II guard against them in the United
States.
AS far as the basic principle of the
Monroe doctrine is concerned, the right
of self-defense Is automatic, and it is
no more necessary TO continue to pay
| the enormous price that We have done
in order to maintain our rights in this
| respect than there is to buy the priv
iIeges of erecting Notifications on the
| isthmus. We cannot, with propriety,
however, form an alliance, for that word
! has been tabooed by an unwritten law
| of the land, but we can engage in an
! entente, as foreigners call 1t, with the
republics of South America that will
| give them a share in the responsibilities
/ of maintaining the policy which looks tC
the general good of all parties concerned
and will, at the same time, benefit the
! political and commercial interests of all
| the American peoples.
IF the South American republics dc
not wish our assistance in maintaining
| their sovereignties there is no use in
| forcing our addresses upon them, only in
so far as it will protect our own in
/ terest, and whether those interests be
affected or not cannot be determined
until the question arises and then only
| on the principle of seIf-defense. An an
nouncemeRt such as was recently made
! in the Congressional resolution presented
| by Senator Lodge on the subject OF
| Mexico will answer the purpose"