The sun., 1916-01-06
LANSING DRAFTS
TREATY EXTENDING
MONROE DOCTRINE
Binds 20 Nations to Rcpubli-
can Government, Bans
Territory Seizure.
CONGRESS- SEES HEAVY
BURDEN ON THE L. $.

wAsHiNGroN, Jan. 5.-The treaty
which Secretary Lansing has proposed
b the twenty republics OF the Western
Hemisphere provides:
Z. For an agreement to guarantee
NE territorial integrity Of the coun.
tries of this hemisphere.
:. For an agreement TO maintafn o
republican form Of Government.
In addition TO these two important
fems the proposed convention. as al
republics Of this hemisphere to submit
disputes, including boundary troubles
except controversies affecting the inde-
pendence OF the countries. TO settlement
BY diplomacy. arbitration or by investi-
sa,lng committee.
The treaty also includes general
Agreement that expectations OF arms will
be prohibited except to the legally con-
si,uted Governments and that neutrality
laws will be adopted against the opera
ton OF nlibusterlng expeditions.
Members OF Congress have expressed
considerable interest In Mr. Iansing's
effort to eliminate the boundary disputes
ss possible sources OF trouble In South
and Central America and they have been
Inclined also to view with favor his at
tempt TO bring about a general UNDER
standing which would prevent the ship
ment Of arms and ammunition to revo-
lutionsry factions in Latin American
countries.
They have felt that much good might
Be- accomplished from n treaty covering
these points.
The disclosure that Secretary Lansing =
proposed treaty goes beyond an arrange
ment of this character and contenplates
. mutual guarantee of territorial IN
Ngrity and an agreement TO maintain a.
republican form of Government mas
led 10 desire for more complete in
formation as to the ADMINISTRATORS
purposes before members of Congress
are willing TO subscribe to the entire
proposal
In fact IL is already apparent that
Mr.. Lansing will encounter stubborn up-
posltoL in the Senate to III. ;wo latter
proposals.
As viewed by many members of Con-
gress these two proposals would throw
heavy burden upon the United States
in addition to that which IL is already
carrying in maintaining the Monroe
Doctrine.
Any violation by one country OF the
territorial integrity of another would
lead to complications in whicl the
United States as party to the general
treaty would be involved and in which.
as the strongest nation. 1t would have to
take the leading part. In other words
the treaty apparently would force tn
United States. II the convention was to
be maintained. to step in and prevent
any war of conquest.
Another Trouble Breeder.
The provision in the proposed treaty
which provides for the mainteancc of a
republican form of government also is
believed by many members OF Congress
10 be "A trouble breeder for the United
States
The chief objection voiced. however,
10 against committing the United States
in advance to a policy which the future
may show to be very embarrassing. es-
pecialy in connection with the inter-
ests Of this Government in the ne!ghbor-
hood Of the Panama Canal
The new treaty proposed by Secretary
Lansing gives expression 10 MS idea al
ready publicly voiced that the republics
Of the Western Hemisphere should stand
together in the enforcement of that doc
trine The treaty which Secretary
Lansing now proposes will. he believes.
make for peace and friendship among
the American republics and by so doing
promote the policy OF "one for all and
all for one as against any attempts at
European aggression.
The treaty that is proposed is not an
alliance, but in many respects II resem-
bes such relationship.
Many in Washington doubt whether
there is any likelihood of such "A treaty
being drawn and ratified by All the
American republics. The general Inn
preston is that the Administration has
made this move to demonstrate i'm
rressively the good faith of American
officials, who have said that the United
States does not seek any territorial
aggradzement.