Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-10-21
DECLARES TIME RIPE
FOR THEU j. s. TO ACT
Charles H. Sheriff. Delivers a
Remarkable Address at
Buffalo.
FOR COLONIES FREEDOM
IN WESTERN HEMISPHERE
Launches Novel Proposition of Ask
ing Europe to Release Hold, and
Suggests Cash Payment.

sphere, in the opinion of Charles H.
Sheriff., former United States minister
to Argentina, who delivered a remark
able address along this line before the
University of Buffalo yesterday.
ut is very doubtful if ever again the
United States will be in better con-
dition to ask favors of Europe than it
is at present. said Mr.. Sheriff.. in re-
ferring to the fact that European ma
tons were seeking financial assistance
in this country as never before; and he
declared the United States owed it to
her sister republics to ask Europe ito
release to the sovereignty of the people
themselves all colonial territory in the
western hemisphere"
Mr.. Sherrills subject was Buffalo and
Her Opportunity in Pan-Americanism"
The speaker did not make it entirely
clear whether he would include Canada
in the bargaining for Independence
saying only:
Canada can have her independence
whenever she likes it, but continues
her connection with the British empire
by her own volition." Mr.. Sheriff. spoke
more particularly of freedom for the
Guianas. British Honduras and such
European colonies.
He said, in part:
In the life of nation. just as in that
of an individual, there may come an
opportunity so obviously one for useful
service as to make of the opportunity
pressing duty. l believe that such an
9Rporsunity ,s is now eOr ours by 5fason Of
loans in our country. l believe that
because of this unprecedented state of
international affairs We can now per-
form such a service for pan-American-
ism as has never been possible since
Monroe pronounced his famous warn
ing to Europe, and which may never be
possible again.
Mission of Monroe Doctrine.
Let US give a glance backward,
before looking forward, and consider
for moment the condition in which
pan-Americanism finds itself today
and the path by which it has advanced.
For us of the most northerIy republic
pan-Americanism has always been
linked with the Monroe doctrine, which
doctrine is not only an important in
ternational fact. but also one founded
upon a great principle.
TT yields us no territory of any of
our fellow republics of this hemisphere,
but it opposes any such territory fall
ing into the hands of any European
power, and thus tends to keep us free
from the whirlpool of European poll
tics. We must not forget that Mon
roe's message was but a logical corol-
larry to Washington's oftquoted recon-
mendatson against entangling foreign
alliances. 1t was cbrollary because.
while We renounce any direct accept
ance of such alliances, nevertheless,
indirectly we might become embroiied
by the planting in our hemisphere of
European colonies. and it was this dam
ger which Monree sought to avoid.
The next logical step after the gen.
eral recognition across the ocean of
the Monroe doctrine. was that our fell
low-American republics should come
to agree that the Monroe doctrine
ought to be continental one, in whose
responsibilities they must Join with
US. so that the doctrine should no
longer be unilateral and it's operation
defensive or otherwise) be left to US
alone. That step in advance has al
ready been taken. thanks to the sue
cess of the A. B. c. mediation in pre-
venting war between the United
States and Mexico. May the broaden
ed scope of the recent cooperative
offer to the Mexican factions of friend
" Offices by seven American republics
be as successful in stopping civil strife
as was the A. B. C. mediation in pre-
venting an international conflict.
Pan-American Joint Effort.
Last December our South American
friends initiated a joint effort to dis
embarrass all pam American waters
from armed conflict between outsiders
an excellent suggestion and formu-
lated in practical terms, as might be
expected from nations long trained
In the study of international questions.
field which has interested our own
people but recently. These Latin Amer
leans looked forward into the future
with the clear vision of a Washington
or a Monroe. and, realizing that i'm
munity from European quarrels re-
CURES freeing our waters as well as
our land from their armed conflicts or
mt a
joint demand for such immunity.
The first point to consider is how
such request for neutralizing pan
American waters might strike our
friends in Europe, and what sort of a
reply they would be justified in max
ing Would not proper reply be that
because sundry European powers have
long possessed territory in the western
hemisphere either on the mainland or
on islands adjacent thereto, therefore
they have the right to use such terri
tory as military bases and to operate in
the waters thereof? And isn't it there
fore the duty of every republic In this
hemisphere to realize that II such q
reply be fair one, then the principle
of pan-American peace will never be
an assured one until the territory of
all the Americas is relieved from the
sovereignty of any European power?
There is an especial reason for urging
realization of this fundamental fact
at this particular time. Monroe could
ture colonization.
1T ~ very doubtful II ever again will
the United states be in better posi-
ton to ask favors of Europe than 1t Is
at present, and it is vastly better to
seek pan american peace as a favor
than by force. And what Is the position
at present? Foreign loans and credits
to European nations are being fioated
here IS never before, and those ma
tons in their need are turning to us
as probably never again will they have
to turn Doesn't this state of affairs
give us so peculiar an opportunity as
to make of the opportunity a duty-a
duty owed by us 20 all our sister re-
publics and to the majestic memories
of Washington and Monroe? Is this
not the psychological moment which
those two great statesmen would have
felt obliged to employ?
canada's Voluntary Attitude.
should we not, therefore, say to our
European friends. In our opinion q
graceful recognition of all we are doing
and shall do for you-a graceful and
noble recognition in whose apprecia-
ton all the Americans would Join
would be to release to the sovereignty
Of the peoples themselves all colonial
territory now owned by you in the west :
ern hemisphere.