Evening star., 1914-07-12

the United States caused France to aban.
don its attempt to set up a monarchy ir
Mexico. But nowhere in the original dec
laration will you find one word that i'm
poses upon the United States the re-
sponsibility of acting as policeman fol
all the American republics.
Consider that the Monroe doctrine
was enunciated in 1923 Not until 1924
was the last battle fought on South
American soil to shake off the hold OF
Spain on that continent. 1t is impossi-
BILE that in the mind of Adams or Mon
roe could there be anything to anticipate
conditions to come after.
Admittedly, the danger of European
aggrandizement in South and Central
America proceeds from the possibility
that European nation by the building
up Of alleged claims for damages to its
nationals might find excuse for obtaining
a territorial foothold. This was the case
in the matter of Mexico.
"A loan to Mexico of SS00,O00 was mag
nifled into a claim of S10,OUO.O00. and be-
cause this was not paid, France. Spain
and Great Britain arbitrarily invaded
Mexico. Coincidently. Spain sent her
fleets to South American waters with a
view to seizing back her lost colonies.
THE South American countries formed
a defensive coalition and refused to ad
init to any of their harbors any of the
feated at Callao and never returned
again. France depending upon the in
ternal troubles of the United States. con-
tinued her efforts to create A monarchy
in Mexico until vigorous representations
were made to her by the United States.
and she. too, withdrew. That was the
Monroe doctrine in practical operation.
But the real Monroe doctrine has moth
ing to do with making the United States
responsible for collecting all the fanciful
claims which any European nation may
put forward against the American repub-
lies. or with establishing a species of
suzarinity over all or any of those repub-
lies. Neither is 1t to the interests of the
United States so to do.
Let me digress for moment to speak
Of this matter of European claims. In
them lies most of the frictions with the
republics to the south-less now than for
merly. foreigner will go into one of
the American republics for the purpose
of making money. In some domestic dis
turbance his property is damaged. say. to
the extent of $1,000. Promptly he sub
mits to his government a claim for $40, 600
against the country in which the dam
ages have accrued. Without further in
vestigation his country demands repara-
ton in the full sum of $4,000.
This was the case in the matter of the
Venezuelan claims. 1t Is interesting to
observe that in the final adjustment of
those claims the amounts allowed by the
adjudtcators did not run more than 80 per
cent of the amounts claimed at the most
1.-The claim industry is pernicious and
a dangerous one. For the United States
to give it countenance under a strained
Interpretation of the Monroe doctrine
would be unwise and disastrous, and am
happy to say that the present adnainistra-
ton of the United States has no DISPOSE
ton to give it countenance.
Rather does the United States indicate
its disposition to have all claims tried in
a properly constituted tribunal to the end
that exact justice may be done. Hence.
the dangers incident to a strained con-
struction of the Monroe doctrine, as view
ed by Latin American eyes. have passed
or are passing.
Further, the Latin American countries,