The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1913-02-25
THE MONROE DOCTRINE
Responsibility Of the United States
i'm the Protection OF Its Citizens
and of Foreigners in Mexico.

|
The National Tribune, Republican,
which is we'll informed OIL the pub
lie affairs at Washington, ID. e.,
where it is published, in its recent
issue reviews the situation in Mex
leo, preceding the deposition and
the assassination of Madero, says:
"Protection of the lives and if pos
s:ble the property Of, foreigners has
been the chief concern here at
Washington. This government is IN
the attitude of big brother of all the
Republics of the South, because OF
its Monroe Doctrine, which forbid5
foreign aggression. 1t has been no
secret for a long time that a state
| of chaOc existed in Mexico. Terrible
Cutrages have been perpetrated be-
cause of Madero's inability to pre-
serve order But when fighting be-
gan in the streets of Mexico City
there were additional complications
and perils, likely to result in per-
|emptOry demands from Germany,
Great Britain and other foreign
lpOwers.
estate Department officials have
Ibeen more or less worried because
responsibility for proper represen-
tations and all that falls upon the
Secretary of State. The War De-
partment and the Navy Department
have likewise been much interest
ed, because all the military protec-
ton of American citizens in Mexico
are directed from those depart
ments. Gen. Leonard Wood as chief
of staff has been in the conculta-
lions, and, as usual in such in
stances, the army has had its plan
of campaign ready to the extent OF
keeping all things in order for the
transportation of troops to the Tex
as border or wherever else it might
be necessary to send them. The
Navy Department early dispatched
several big ships. to ports OF Mexico
en- the Pacific coast and on the At
lantic coast. While these are some
distance from the cepital, the pres
ence of a large armed force within
striking distance is supposed to fur
nish security to lives and interests
of foreigners.
The gist of the Monroe Doctrine
is that the United States must pro-
tect from foreign and Asiatic inva-
sion the countries of Central and
South America; but whatever diff
| ference may arise between any OF
these countries and foreign power
may be adjusted by arbitration and
compromise, as in the case OF Ven
ezuela.
The Monroe Doctrine was declared
in 1923 by President Monroe when
there was an apprehension OF
| coalition of European powers 10 in
wade Central and South America.
At that time the population OF the
UNITED States was about eleven mil
lions. but what the United States
lacked in number as contrasted with
the European powers was more
than equalized by the daring OF
President Monroe.
Under the decree of the Monroe
Doctrine it devolves on the United
States to give protection to its citl-
zens and to foreigners in their lives
and their property in Mexico, but If
this protection is not given the Eu-
ropean powers could cOalesce and
insist on the assurance of such pro-
lection, and to that end could as
sumo the offensive on the plea OF
the necessity of protecting the for
eigners in Mexico, which would be
an equivalent of war against Mexico
and the United States.
/ While the conditions in Mexico
are aggravated, the United States
will remain in the attitude of OBJ
servation, but ready to strike the
lblOw if necessary, with its navy and
\ its army, in order to protect its citi-
) zens and foreigners, should the
Huerta administration fail to re-
} ,lstore order and safeguard the lives
and the property in Mexico who are
not Mexicans.