New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-12-28
Pan-Americanism and Monrocism

trine were natural topics for the speakers
at the opening yesterday Of the Pan-Amer-
lean Scientific Congress. They would have
been natural topics even if President VIII
son had not embodied in his message to
Congress on December some rather mys-
tifving suggestions as TO the suppression
Of the Monroe Doctrine by new doctrine
the concert of the American powers.
We said when the message was read TO
Congress that we did rot believe that
Mr.. Wilson was really trying to recast
and subordinate the Monroe Docttne. II
seemed to US that he was merely dallying
with the idea. Yet it is interesting to note
the immediate effect Of what he said on
the minds Of the statesmen Of other Amer
lean countries. Ambassador Suarez of
Chill. who presided at the opening SEES
sion Of the congress, aptly reflected the
view of the governments of the other
American republics when he remarked
that up to now there had prevailed I'm the
atmosphere of American foreign offices
uncertainties, miSgivings and suspicious
whenever the well-nspired and unques-
tionably beneficial declaration of President
Monroe was brandished in the United
States with view to practical application
II might have been a threat, he added, 80
long as It was only right and an obliga-
ton on the part of the United States.
Generalized as a derivation from the Pan
American policy supported by all the re-
publics in the continent as a common force
and a common defence, it has become
solid tie of union, a guarantee, bulwark
of all our democracies.'
Here is a very clear statement of the
belief that the doctrine of the Pan-Amer-
lean concert has crowded into the back
ground our purely national Monroe Doc
trine-a belief to which Mr.. Wilson, In
his message, seemed inclined to give a
certain amount of encouragement. Yet
that encouragement was more academic
than practical Mr.. Wilson hedged care
fully i'm his speech, three weeks ago, and
Secretary Lansing, representing the adj
miniStration, hedged just as carefully
Yesterday. He would not admit that the
Monroe Doctrine was destined to be alb
sorbed in the broader doctrine of Pan
American concert, or TO retain its vitality
only as a deduction from the larger
theory of Pan-Americanism. He would
concede only this: "The Monroe Doctrine
is a national policy of the United States;
Pan-Americanism is an international pol
icy of the Americas. The motives are to
an extent different; the ends sought are
the same. Both can exist without impair
ing the force of either. And both do exist,
and, I trust, will ever exist in all their
vigor"
1t would be foolish for our government
to confess even by implication that the
Monroe Doctrine has done its work and
can be safely incorporated into any
broader doctrine Of America for Ameri-
cans. The Monroe Doctrine has never been
subjected to a real test. 1t has remained
practically unchallenged for nearly cen
tury only because of deadlock of inter
ests in Europe. Great Britain, controlling
the seas and herself the largest holder OF
colonies in the Western Hemisphere, has
been content to see the American status
o,,o maintained. Our fiat has held good ;
but we have never had the military power
TO enforce that fiat unaided against first
class European power. except possibly
against France. when the Inflated empire
Of Maximilian was set up in Mexico.
Should the present war in Europe de-
stroy the old balance Of power and leave
the United States more isolated interna-
tionally than it has ever been, the Mon
roe Doctrine might easily be put to rude
trial. Are we, therefore, to attempt to
dodge that searching trial, TO modify our
allegiance 70 a doctrine of sovereignty
and guardianship which has been our
boast, by dividing up with other American
powers a responsibility which we have so
far borne without any partnership?
II would be well enough TO have friends
and allies 10 the south of us if the time
came 10 defend American soil against
European or Asiatic aggression. But 1t
would be impolitic for US 10 depend upon
p concert Of nations, most Of them without
any developed military strength, TO ac-
complish what the United States has al
ready pledged itself TO accomplish out OF
its own resources and for its own pur-
poses.
A concert would suffer from divided
counsels and multiple aims. II would also
permit our statesmen 70 hide behind the
paper strength of an American coalition
aud TO neglect the development Of the
military power Of the United States-the
only power sufficient 10 make good in all
cases the doctrine Of America for the
American. The American concert would
take the place Of those other exploded
superstitions-our inacccssibility and our
childlikc faith in the efficacy Of interna-
tional arbItrstion---vhich have hitherto
served as excuses for halfway measures