Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-05-01

oAN JUAN, Porto ftlCO, ApIu @os AcA~'
The approaching completion OF the Fan
ANA canal will open up q new neld OF m
ternational politics, in which the UnNeo
States must make itself the dominant
factor and in which 1t will have trans
cendent interest. 1t will unquestionaoly
give to the Monroe doctrine new I'M
portance and render its maintenance
more urgent necessity than ever before.
Unhappy as might have been the lot OF
the United States had that international
policy been broken down by some foreign
power in the days before the canal was
begun, it would not have been by any
means so serious situation as that
which would confront us In the future
If some strong nation should refuse TO
respect that doctrine and should finally
attain dominating position in the Carlo
bean. The breaking down OF the Monroe
doctrine now might lead even to the loss
Of the control Of the Panama canal ana
we would witness that great waterway
transformed from military asset OF I'M
measurable benefit into a base or opera
tons against us.
There are those who hold that Great
Britain is very glad to have the Monroe
doctrine maintained, and that II neces-
sary 1t would be ready to lend its morai.
If not its physical. support to the United
assert that those who see situations aris-
ing in the future where the Monroe doc
trine might be disputed with force OF
arms are seeing conditions not likely TO
arise except in the minds of those VINO
possess lively imaginations.
On the other hand, there are other WELL
informed people who feel that there are
nations which have not finally and Tor
They assert that while it perhaps is true
that no nation is seeking an imaginary
grievance upon which to predicate an ef-
fort to break down this principle or inter-
national policy, on the other hand. II
situation should arise wherein the Monroe
dctrine actually stood in the way Of such
a power as Germany or Japan, serious
trouble might follow.
Those who take this view Of the situa-
ton feel that the worst feature OF the
ditions which might lead the United
States into war for the preservation
Of the Monroe doctrine may not be of our
own making. They point out that while
the diplomatic officials Of the United
States might prevent conditions that
would lead to war from arising in our
own country. we cannot feel SO certain
about the actions of some OF our sister
republics of the Caribbean. 1t is well
known that some Of these countries have
been rather rem!ss in regarding their in
ternational obligations. 1t is also be-
lieved by some persons that there have
been instances In which some, at least, OF
these countries would not have been
grieved q great deal If their courses had
actually involved the United States in a
war with foreign power.
~
With such a condition confronting the
responsible authorities Of the United
States it Is
Protects This Country but natu-
in Case Of Foreign War. thew should
desire to exercise over the republics OF
the Caribbean that guiding control that
will serve to prevent them from exposing
America to the danger Of a foreign war
| through any ill-considered or irrespon-
sible acts Of theirs.
Through all the years this condition has
led administrations Of every shade Of po-
litical belief to insist upon the right of
the United States to make certain that
none Of the republics south Of us does
anything inimical to our own interna-
tional relations. 1t was this doctrine that
led Secretary Olney, in the Venezuelan
boundary controversy, to say to England
that today the United States is practi-
cally sovereign on this continent and it's
fiat is law upon the subjects to which it
confines it's interposition. Secretary
Knox states that he is sure that the spirit
behind those words contemplated no ar
bitrary exercise Of sheer power, but a
determined zeal in magnanimous consid-
Grafton for the rights Of other American
republics, sincere sympathy with them
in their trials, and an insistence upon the
right that good might come to them. and
that our own vital interests should not be
menaced.
According to Secretary Knox the best
way to avoid the difficulties occasionally
arising out of the resp disabilities entailed
by the Monroe doctrine is to assist the
less fortunate American republics in con-
Quoting their affairs in such a way that
those difficulties will not be SO likely to
arise. Mr.. Knox further calls attention
to the fact that under the sheltering care
of the Monroe doctrine several of the re-
publics of South America have grown to
be great and powerful and have come
to enjoy the highest culture and the best
political ideals, and have maintained sta
BILE governments. He says that the