Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1914-04-09
SEEK TO ABOLISH
MONROE DOCTRINE

philadelphia, Pa. April 6.-The pres
ent international relations and obliga-
lions of the United States is the gen.
eral topic under discussion at this
Academy of Political and Social
Science which began here today. The
sessions We're opened With q discus
sion of the Present Status of the
Monroe Doctrine,
The Mexican situation, its problems
and obligations will be taken up to-
night at tomorrow's sessions adj
dresses Will be made on the policy of
the United States i'll the Pacific and
on the elements of u constructive
American foreign policy.
John Barrett, director general of the
Pan-American union, presided at the
opening session and among he papers
read was one by Rear Admire f. f..
Chadwick, retired.
The Latin View.
Leopold Graham, of New York, pre-
senting the Latin view of the Monroe
doctrine. said that the doubts and sus-
piclonS of the Latin republics as to the
ultimate aims of the United States are
accentuated by the extension of the
Monroe doctrine to ends never contem-
plated by it's author. 1T is such Incl
dents as these which have occurred in
Mexico. Nicaragua n in Colombia"
he said, that have led to a growing
belief in the supposed desire on the
part of the United States to establish
a suzerainty over some of the republics
OF Central and South America"
IF the Monroe doctrine of 1923 had
not expanded with the lapse of time
or taken on new phases with the de-
Nelopment of new situations" said
John HI. Latane. president of history
at Johns Hopkins university, ut would
have long ceased to have been of any
value. for the exact situation that
| n911a1 forth t1n nripinal lcploratipr in
1923, can never again arise.
THE Monroe doctrine is merely a
name that Americans nave given for so
years to our Latin American policy"
he said, which in the necessity of
things has undergone changes and will
continue to undergo them
Admiral Colby's Plan.
A "concert of action" among Ameri-
can republics in defense of the prin-
ciple Of America Tor the Americans
as a substitute for the manner in
which the Monroe doctrine is en-
forced today by the United States
alone, was urged by Rear Admiral
Colby M. Chester.
Two distinct and f~ar~reaching
principles are laid down in the Mon
roe doctrine" he said. The afrst is
the principle of self defense. The sec
ond is that South American republics,
which followed our lead in declaring
their independence, should have our
| protection in maintaining this doctrine
for themselves.
THE first principle is automatic and
immutable, and all other considerations
must give away to it. The second is
amenable to charges or amendments
that will bring it into accord with new
conditions that arise. The question
now is, therefore, do the same con-
ditions prevail on the western CONT
nent today that existed at the time
President Monroe sent his message to
congress in 1923?
We should remember that the South
American republics We're in their in
fancy at the time the Monroe doctrine
was declared, and We're struggling
against great odds FOR liberty. The
United States proclaimed herself the
protector of the western world as a
matter of necessity, for without her aid
the newly formed republics were help
less to battle against the great odds
opposing them.
che question today, so far as our
national defense is concerned, is,
would it be a menace to interests cen
tered so far as the United States if a
European power. whose political and
even religious aspirations may be the
same as u own, should attempt to
acquire territory in Argentina for in
stance? such an assault would, affect
the interests Of that country, but
should the United States attempt to in
terfere in the matter unless asked by
Argentina to aid her in throwing off
the menace that assailed her?
Doctrine Discredited.
Leading statesmen of Brazil and
other South American republics nave
declared that the Monroe doctrine is
d1scredited in the republics for whose
benefit 1t was devised. not that they
do hot appreciate the good Intentions
of the United States. but they deny the
right Of this nation to appoint itself
guardian over their welfare. A doc
trine bundled upon the principle laid
down by James Monroe, but giving the
right Of a protectorate to the powers
In general and not to any country in
particular, would be the ideal doctrine,
In the belief Of the people of Latin
America.
w cannot. however, with propriety,
form an alliance" for that word has
been tabooed by an unwritten law of
the land.
Let US form then a concert of ac-
ton after the principles of the Mon
roe doctrine, similar to that established
in Europe for the support of the doc
trine known there as The Balance of
Power Cali this part of our internal
tional policy by the name of the Mon
roe doctrine. If you will, or by the term
America for he Americans which will
probably better please our conferees in
''D pes' 'h'' ~ LIN lAiiS III DC El
accord with the general principle Of
that doctrine"
But there is a field in which the in
t~erests of the United States should not
be shared with any other nation, the
speaker added in considering the coun-
tries of the Caribbean sea or along
the Gulf of Mexico. The right of the
United States to protect these coun-
tries from foreign aggression has been
recognized in many ways by European
N - n =, t~i1- -, ,.1 IT, 49, ~ D.. .r,,
Father OF Republics" has been called
for, and accepted SO many times, as
to establiDh this policy of the American
government as an inalienable right"
he said.
TN defending the continental policy
of America for the Americans the
United States will have ample cause
for keeping up an efficient navy, and
she will need every ship that our nom
military country will authorize to be
constructed"
Sensitive OIfactory Nervos