The Washington herald., 1913-02-02
WAR OVER MONROE DOCTRINE
APPEARS TO BE INEVITABLE

destroyer, carrying guns against which
no destroyer could stand up. with pro-
lection enough to repel six-fnch projec-
tiles and able to hold the sea when a de-
stroyer could not keep aGlost.
These swift cruisers are designed
chiefly to serve as a screen for battle
heets-that is, to protect the latter
against approach by the waspish de-
stroyers. Germany already has num-
Der Of them in commission. and is build
ing others as fast as she can. 1t is
hardly necessary to say that We have
none at ALL
Fleet Is Modern.
All of this, it should be realized. is an
entirely new state of affairs. Fifteen
years ago Germany as a maritime power
was SO feeble as to be practically negligi-
bic But the very newness of her
strength on the seas is in a way the most
formidable element OF that strength, in
ssmuch as her battle fleet and its auxil-
iaries are thoroughly modern and I'D to
the very latest date.
Assuming (as we know must be the
case) that Germany two years from now
will be twice as strong on the seas as
ourselves, how long Is the Kaiser going
to refrain from grabbing a slice of South
America?
Not long. you may be sure. What does
he care about the Monroe doctrine? Not
a cent. The Kaiser Wilhelm II doctrine
is what interests him. and II the tive
contiict, so much the worse for the ma
ton that upholds the weaker side.
Ours is beyond doubt the weaker
side, unfortunately. II is not a ques-
tion of argument, or of morals, but OF
force.
Canal Weakness.
We are accustomed TO say that we
Yankees can whip any other nation on
the face of the earth. That argument
Off such it be termed) has defeated
many a naval appropriation in Con-
Gress. But IL does not seem very OBJ
vious how we are going to whip Ger
many. If a collision shall arrive. with
half the number of ships she possesses.
II takes at least two years to build
a battleship. The war would be over
in three months.
We could not hold command Of the
sea approaches TO the canal without
our naval forces in 18th
mian waters. And how could We man
age that. with our home seapoTts To
defend against a battle fleet twice
strong as our own?
PuZZling problem. is IL not?
II the canal fell into the enemys hands
II might be Of valuable use to them
locks and disabled II.
Germany has developed a wonderful
military transport system. 1t has been
said land perhaps correctly thai SIN
could at any time. at two weeks notice
land 10000 armed men on Long Island
before We received any warning Of the
plan. and capture New York. With our
little army scattered all over the Coun-
try. We could offer no resistance worth
She could then hold the metropolis
the wcalthiest city in the world. EXCEPT
possibly IIondon-to ransom. In the sun
treasury in Wall Street are stored at all
times a couple of hundred millions or
iollars in gold. or some such sum. Some
DOT,
Thoughtful persons interested in snecu-
ating on this subject have wondered
low trouble between ourselves and Ger
many over the South American question
night begin.
COvetous Eyes on Brazil.
Of course, it is mere guess. But the
articular part of South America which
iermany most covets IS Brazil-or at all
vents. portion of that country. to starr
nth. Brazil is a much bigger place than
host people imagine. Its area is ; e1Saal
quare fmiles-Greater by 245,C0O square
niles than that of the United States In
he mouth Of its largest river the Anna
on. is an island the size of Denmark
The best-developed section Of Brazil a.
he present time is the State of Sac
'aulo. 1t has 3o0o00 German residents
he latter are not Brazilians, in the sens
nat German people in our own country
ave become Americans; they still regard
themselves as belonging to the fatherland.
II has been suggested that If these
Germans of Sac Paulo took = notion Cls
hight happen at any time) to seize the
overnment OF that State. 10 seCede from
razil. and TO declare the State a part
no possession OF the German Empire
ne Kaiser might back them up.
Then what should We do?
We should as a matter OF course. pro
st through diplomatic channels. II
nat were Ineffective, war would ncCeS-
ariIy follow. Since the Monroe doc
-ine was promulgated there never has
cen 2 time when we were not ready 10
ght for il.
The war would be wholly a naval war,
which We should be opposed to a pow
twice asst strong as ourselves on the
"a How could We reasonably expect TO
in?
Force Only support.
II beaten. We should be Obliged TO pay
huge indemnity; Germany would take
hat she wanted of South America and
,r great colonial problem would BE-
lived. Other European powers might
mp in and demand shares of the vast
rritory thus thrown open TO their cc-
pancy. OF the Monroe doctrine there
ould be an end. 1t would be smashed
to such little pieces that the fragments
ould not be worth picking up.
Il goes almost without saying that there
lists no Inherent moral sright in our
aim Of authority-amountins in effect
quasi-euzerainty-ove South America.
e do not own that continent. and the
claration made by tho United States
at il will not permit any European
wer to extend its dominion there can
tain no respect, save in SO far as We
ok II UP by force.
Up to now the bluff has worked very
I'll. Neither Great Brtthin nor any
ner power has cared enough about the
after to quarrel about f. But Ger
any within recent years has come to
re a great deal The subject has be-
me to her one OF most vital impor-
nee. She must find at whatever cost
outlet for her ever-increasing surplus
population. and the only part of the
rid that offers the requisite opportu-
" is South America
World Struggle Possible.
I is another case of inevitably. con-
Il" Sooner or later it must arrive.
e only question is, how soon?
{ We were wise. We would volun-
lily abrogate the Monroe doctrine.
Iich, from the standpoint of to-day, Is
foolish, back-number policy: and there