Imperial Valley press., 1913-08-05
CONGRESSMAN -TAvENNER'S
LETTER FROM WASHINGTON
BY Congressman Clyde H. Tavennerp

BY Congressman Clyde H. Tavennerl
WASHINGTON. Aug. 5.-"The time
ras come when the Monroe doctrine
must be modified or rrnodnced.' de
}cIarcd senator James Hamilton Lewis.
of Illinois. in a remarkable statement
which ne has given to me with pcrmi,-
sion to publish.
According to Senator Lewis. this ma
uon has progressed to a point where
She can no longer consistently forbid
European aggression in Central and
South America Willie The United STATES
herself has become an ag=ressOr in
these countries. This aggression, too,
is inevitable for the protection Of The
Panama canal, the proposed Nicara-
guam treaty, in which the United Slates
assumes Il protcctOrate over the smaller
nation, indicated the trend Of Ameri-
can advancement.
When the Monroe doctrine was pro-
mulGated there was no thought that
Tie United States would ever interfere
in Latin American politics, and we
theref fore demanded that no European
ration be permitted to colOnize on this
continent The logical Interference -
thinks Mr. Lewis, that having departed
from our own former attitude we cm
nc longer forbid the countries of Eu-
rope from entering Pan-America. Sen
atOr Lewis believes that the Monroe
doctrine will be superseded by a neN
pGlicy-the American doctrine. Which
will mean: "Any course by America
anywhere necessary for the main
tenance Of American ideals ana the
Just protection Of American citizen
ship"
america has broken into South
America" said Senator Lewis, ''seize,l
Panama. divided Colombia, and for the
object Of constructing the Panama
canal now finds it necessary to take
possession Of Central America, or TO
arrange a protectOrate which Will give
IL control Of these widening banks
Yf ann pavx- Ct
''Clearly it is impossible for rs to
invade South and Central America to
the extent necessary to protect the
canal without having either the CO.
operation Of the European countries
interested in South or Central America.
or. if not their cooperation. their 81
lent acquiescencc in the form of non
resistance.
Equally clear is it that to have
either, some form of reciprocity with
these countries in South or Central
America is at once necessary 1t is
apparent that these European countries
IN turn for the cooperation which we
must seek from them will demand 9f
us that they be permitted to preserve
their own interests in these same
spheres in any manner they may find
necessary
That those countries now will de-
mand the privilege in Mexico. South
and Central America to protect their
rights in the same form as thew are
maintained by Italy in Abyssinia. py
France in Algeria, by England in Egypt
and China, and by Germany in China
and central Africa. is all too apparent
and that these features Of govern
ment will now be advanced and en-
trenched upon the American CONT
nent in Central and South America
'Then who shall say what shall ,,e
the extent Of tie armies thew will have
a right to maintain upon our southern
boundary: and who shall be able IN
say under what grievance they nav
not advance with these armies upOn NJ
eliher because Of wrong done them nv
uS growing out Of commerce, or be-
cause or any alliances they may have
with any oriental country which for
any reason arises in The future TO be
come uIIr hostile fopo