The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1913-01-05

subject of transfer to a European
power"
The Lodge resolution which passed
the senate only last summer goes q
step further. 1t provides that when
any harbor or other place in the Amer
lean continent is so situated that the
occupation therefore for naval OF mill
tary purposes might threaten the COM
munications or safety of the United
States, the government Of the United
States could not see without grave
concern the possession Of such harbor
or other place by any corporation or
association which has such relation to
another government, not American, as
to give that government practical pow
er Of control for naval or military pur-
poses"
Refers 70 European Powers.
It may be noted here as a sort of
aside that in Monroe's message there
was constant reference to European
powers and that in the principle pro-
posed by Grant and quoted above ref
erence is had also to European powers.
The Lodge resolution, however, stu
diously avoids any such narrow HIni-
tation. This Is significant, and es-
pecially so in virtue Of the repeated
rumors to the effect that Mexico and
Japan had entered into a secret treaty
binding japan to come to the aid of
Mexico in case of the Intervention of
the United States IN Mexico, and that
Mexico had coded to Japan or to q
japanese corporation the important
Magdalena bay on the west coast of
Mexico. It would be quite feasible for
powerful corporation that had ac-
quired such a herbor to fortify it rapid
ly in case of war and use 1t against
the United States. Hence the new
statement of the Monroe Doctrine; new
In form but in spirit the same as when
first promulgated.
We Of the north are accustomed to
think Of the Monroe Doctrine as q
purely a1truistic measure. aimed to Sc
cure the peace and well-being OF this
continent This in its ultimate analysis
Is undoubtedly what It Is; but we must
not forget that 1t is possible for US
to become diverted from the original
high purpose and engage under the
guise of a high principle in a species
of exploitation of Central and the
weaker South American republics that
would be to our everlasting discredit.
One notes IN the South American press
a growing distrust of the United States
as regards its policy of territorial ex-
pansion, and one senses a very dis
tinct undercurrent of potential hostil-
ity to US that might upon the least prov
ocation burst into the most bitter and
harmful opposition. Unfortunately the
threatened Intervention in Mexico and
the part taken by the United States
recently in the political affairs Of Cen
trail American republics have contrib
uted powerfully toward giving an as
port that the United States intends to
absorb Latin America.
The European press and certain Of
our own papers for one motive or an
other makes good the opportunity to
add fuel to the fire.
Republics Aligned.
For example in the South American
supplement Of the London Times for
October there appears q letter from the
correspondent OF that paper in Pan
anna, in which the relations between
the United States and Central America
are discussed. The letter begins with
a quotation from a statement publish
ed in a Panama paper and attributed
to General Juan ]. Estrada, foremost
amongst the leaders Of the revolution
Of two years ago against Zelaya in
Nicaragua He declares that all the
republics of Latin America and es-
pecially OF Central America, have
aligned themselves against what Is
termed dollar diplomacy and espec-
tally against any ambitions that the
United States may have towards the
absorption OF the American continent"
Estrada further says as the Times
quotes him: IF in reality the United
States had any such intentions Cab
sorption) towards Latin America, no
resistance on our part could be too
strong. for surely a nation or group OF
nations is always justified in taking the
most extreme means to maintain its