New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-10-02
MIR. Olney on Pan-Americanisrn

dents Mexican policy. The TWO prooie"S
GRO ;ptertwined. for Latin America has
been obliged TO Judge the sincerity OF MI.
Wilson, attachment to the doctrine OF
Pan-Amcricanism by what he has done IN
Mexico as well as by what he has done IN
Uavti. the Dominican Republic and Mica
ragua.
Mr.. Olney. for his own purposes, has de-
a,ad the Administration Mexican policy
rs one Of non-intervention Tin PLAIN cell
sncc Of the Administration unbrcken rec
ID of intervention in Mexico from March,
4oi3. TO October. 1870. The ex-Secretary
lhus states what he considers the Presl-
sont's Mexican and Pan-American policy
10 have been:
"They 1.-THE principles and ideals oil
orr constitutional government re-
ouire US to admit that MeXico Is en-
titled TO govern herself; that her peo-
ple. like the other peoples OF South
and Central America, are entitled 10
co through all the processes and eX-
periences necessary for their education
and intelligent participation III Tree
Government: while the proper role OF
tho United States IS TO abstain from
Interference itself and to permit no
Interference from any other quarter,
and 20 secure the solidarity of the two
Americas by securing for our pur-
roses and policies the appreciation and
. eunport of the Latin-American coun-
tries
This programme of abstention from IN
reference in Latin-American countries
even when the interests of the United
States are ieopardized by lawlessness, bad
faith in the payment Of foreign debts or
the general breakdown Of government
runs counter to one of the obvious coroi-
laries of the Monroe Doctrine. Ii we deny
to European countries the right to inter
vene in order to protect the lives and prop
erty interests of their citizens or subjects,
we must ourselves guarantee the credit
and good conduct Of the backward Amerl-
can powers toward which we deliberately
assume an attitude Of guardianship.
When Mr.. Olney was Secretary Of State
he pushed the Monroe Doctrine to It's furth-
est limit in logic by writing to the British
Foreign Office: To-day the United States
is practically sovereign on this continent,
and its fat is law upon the subjects to
which it confines its interposition." No
role could possibly be more unsuited to
him than that of champion of the policy of
non-interference which he now applauds
as in harmony with American ideals and
practice.
not the real issue in question. He may
have become a convert to the new Cos
pei of Pan-Americanism which he asserts
that this Administration has practised.
The real point is whether or not he has &C.
curately defined and described the Admin
istration's policy.
1t is clear that he is again depending on
empty phrases and impromptu inspirations
which have never been associated with the
Administration actual practice. Mr.. Will
son has talked Pan-Americanism and nom
interference whenever the spirit Of the oc-
casion has moved him 10 do so. But at the
same time he has made all those profess
sions ridiculous by diplomatic and military
Intervention in Latin-Americsn countries,
supposed, under his own and Mr.. Olney's
theory, to be entitled TO govern themselves.
lie sent marines into Hayti, took pos
session Of all the Haytian ports and i'm
posed on the Haytian government treaty
creating an American protectorate. That
treaty denies TO the people of Hayti the
privilege Of educating themselves any
longer for participation in free govern
mcnt" through the process Of revolution.
IL extinguishes Hayti's political indepen-
Nence; and does so for the sufficient reason
hat continuance Of revolution and mis-
government in this West Indian republic
would be a serious menace 70 the interests
Of the United States.
President Wilson recently suppressed by
armed force a revolutionary outbreak in
the Dominican Republic. No American
protectorate over this republic mas yet
been established by treaty agreement
only a fiscal one. But the political pro-
tectorate exists in fact, though not yet in
legal form.
The Administration also submitted 10
Congress q couple OF years ago treaty
leyslizing a de facto American interven-
lion in Nicaragua and establishing thor
ough- going American protectorate. Sub
sequently the treaty was modified. But
even In It's ratified form It establishes an
undeniabIe political guardianship on the
part Of the United States.
In Mexico, as everybody knows, Mr..
WiIson's Intervention has been persistent