Grand Forks daily herald. (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1914-1916, 1914-11-27
FRIDAY. NOVEMBER 81, 1914.
LATIN AMERICAN NEUTRALITY.

Because of its position as the most
the United States has constantly pre-
sented to its problems with reference
to the relations of the Central and
South American nations to Europe
which must be p%erplexing.
We have declared, time and again.
That we would loo with extreme dis
favor on the acquisition of additional
American territory by any European
government. While no formal Off
cial statement to that effect has been
made, the general understanding IS
hat we would resist with force any
power to acquire new American pos
sessions. Some of the European gov
e%rnrnents have acQu1esced in this po-
sition. and none Of them have disput-
- T.
Because of this. the United States
has come to be regarded, in a meas
Ire as the guardian Of and sponsor
for the rest of the American repub-
lies. It has become pretty we'll estab-
lished, however. that the United
States neither assumes responsibility
for the behavior of its neighbors nor
consequences Of their misbehavior-if
they m~isbehave. What It does insist
on. in effect. is that their territory
shall not be taken away from them
and appropriated by European pow
ers. If they borrow money from
France. for instance, and refuse to
a we would not obstruct any at
tempt that France might take to com
pei payment. II, in such Circumstances,
France should seize customs houses
and hold them until the collections
were SUFFICIENT to liquidate the debt,
We could interpose no objection. All
that would be necessary would be as
surance that the French operations
were intended In good faith as a
means Of collecting a just debt, and
Tor no other purpose. If they were
made the pretext for a permanent &C.
cupa&ion Of territory, we would inter-
pose.
Just now the question Of the neu-
trality Of some OF the southern re-
publics is attracting attention. Chile
appears to be settling tho matter for
herself by dispatching war vessels to
see that the neutrality Of her forts Is
not violated by belligerent nations.
Colombia and Ecquador are said to
have permitted. within their territor-
les. the installation of powerful wire
less stations which are used by Ger
man agents for conveying military
information. Great Britain and
France have asked the United States
to have this violation OF neutrality
brought to an end.
It, seems that two courses are open
to the United States. We may do as
requested. requesting the Colombia
government to see that the interna-
tional proprieties are observed. Or
we may decline to take any steps
whatever. II we take the former
course and Colombia declines to take
the necessary measures, that, It seams,
would end the matter, so far as this
government is concerned. We would
merely report our action and its re-
suits to our transatlantic neighbors.
In either case, failing appropriate ac-
ton by the Colombian government,
the case would revert back to Eng
land and France, and 1t would be for
them to take such steps as might seem
necessary to them to protect their in
terests. We will certainly not send
an expedition to Colombia to maintain
Colombian neutrality in a quarrel to
which we are not q party. Nobody
expects us to do SO. Either can we
object if, after proper effort has been
made, they should themselves UNDER
take, by force Of arms, to