The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1914-11-28
MONROE DOCTRINE NOT a eAF
TO GERMANY MAKING WAR
ON CANADA, SAYS TAFT.
UNITED STATES WAS TOO HAsTY
IN THE MEXICAN SlTuA.
TON.
FORMER PRESIDENT STATES
THERE WAS NEITHER WATCH
ING NOR WAITING.
81 Assoc1ArEp PREss.l

mer President William Howard Taft
in an address here last night.
These are some OF the salient fea'
lures of his remarks:
The landing OF troops in Canada
by enemies of Great Britain would
not constitute a violation of the doc.
trine, but an effort to establish d
new form OF government in case Of
victory would.
There is little, likelihood Of the pol
icy being pressed in Argentina. Bra
I'll and Chile. These countries are
able to protect themselves and they
are so remote from the United States
that violation Of the doctrine in re-
spect to them would not be harmful
to this country's interests and safety
Neither Watched Nor Waited.
The doctrine has not been applied
in Mexico, because there is nothing
in It which requires the United States
to bring about peace in that coun'
try.
"Watchful waiting" Mr.. Taft said,
twas the term applied to the United
States status. but" he went on, I'VE
have neither watched nor waited, but
have, in fact, most hastily interviewed
and thus find the present anarchy
charged as the logical consequence
of our policy"
Mr.. Taft found much good to say
about the Monroe doctrine and ex'
pressed the hope that 1t might not be
abandoned.
at has made for peace for 30
years." he said. "Why will, 1t not
mako for peace in the next 100
years." !
In taking up tho proposition Of
Great Britain's enemies landing
troops in Canada, Mr.. Taft cited the
stand Of Secretary Seward taken
when Spain declared war on Chile.
He announced this country would not
interfere as long as one country did
not seek to infiict Its government on
the conquered people nor compel q
permanent transfer Of their territory,
nor resort to any other unjustly OPP
pressve measures.
Not Applicable to Canada.
at seems to me clear" Mr.. Taft
said from the history which have
given Of the Monroe doctrine, and
from Secretary Stewards declaration
in the case OF the war between Chile
and Spain, that consistent pursuit
of the policy would not require us to
object to any warlike measures under
the rules OF lawful war which Eng
lands enemies might take against
Canada.
Canada is already furnishing sub
stantlal military aid TO Great Britain
and the allies. She has sent body
of 10000 well equipped soldiers, and
is preparing more and intending to
send them. On that theory, there
fore, could we justly object to Ger
many's taking counter measures ana
carrying the war into country which
is waging war upon her? All that the
Monroe doctrine would consistently
require of us would be to insist that
when the war is over, If Germany
were successful, she could not take
over the territory of Canada and over
throw her government and establish
her own there, or take any oppres'
siye measures which would have a
similar effect. But we could not OBJ
iect to her exacting an indemnity II
she we're the victor
Little Danger In Policy Now.
Mr.. Taft sees little danger Of the
policy drawing this country into trou'
ble with a European nation soon, at
least, one reason being that the pres
ent struggle abroad will leave them
exhausted and, therefore, unlikely to
begin new hostilities.
"Were we to abandon the doctrine"
he continued, land thus in effect nott'
~ the European governments that so
far as our remonstrance or interpo-
sition was concerned, they might take
possession OF Santo Domingo, OF Hal
Il, or Of any of the Central American
republics, or Of any South American
republic that might be disturbed by
revolution, and that might give them
some international excuse for inter-
yentIon, it would be but very short
time before we would be forced into
controversies that would be much
more dangerous to the peace OF this
hemisphere than our continued asser'
ton Of the doctrine, properly under
stood and limited"
The IA. B. c." powers, he contin'
ued, understood that this country does
not claim to exercise any suzerainty
over them and is not rendering its
guardianship as II they needed It. He
added he thought 1t would be a good
thing II these powers would join in
unfolding the doctrine, but move
in this direction might cause jealousy
and suspicion adong smaller South
American countries.
AS to such countries as Haiti and
lisanto Domingo, Mr. Taft said the
work or the United States there In
settling uprisings had been that O g
neishbors who sought to maintain
peace In the cnmmpnity.