New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-06-18
Pan.Americanism Decisions.

Pan-Americanism Decisions.
One of the curiosities of the new Demo-
cratic national platform is its attempt to
square the Administration record in Mex
leo. Hayti and Nicaragua with It's pro
LESSONS Of honest devotion TO the doctrine
Of Pan-Americanism. Dir. Wilson and Mr..
Lansing are negotiating a treaty which IS
TO bind the United States to enter into a
compact guaranteeing the political lnde-
incidence and territorial integrity of every
existing Latin-American state. Under its
terms this country is 10 enter Pan-Amer-
lean governing council in which its ability
10 protect its own interests will be meas
ured by one vote out Of total Of twenty
one.
The St. Louis platform therefore stands
for Pan-Americanism. It says that the
Monroe Doctrine Implies the most scrupu-
lous regard upon our part for the SOW
ereignty" Of each of the Latip-American
republics. 1t also says that the present
Administration has preferred respect for
the fundamental rights of smaller states
even 10 property interests (the property
interests of Americans unable TO secure
protection from corrupt or incompetent
covernments). and has secured the friend
shin of the people Of these states by re-
fnsing 10 make a mere material interest
an excuse for the assertion of our su-
nerior power against the dignity of their
sovereign independence
That is the idealized description of the
Administration policy which the trainers
of the St. Louis platform ask the country
10 accept. But what are the facts? Under
President Wilson'S orders American ma
rines landed last summer in Hayti and
practically took over control Of the Hay
tian government. Subsequently a Haytian
Executive and Congress, sustained by
American authority, ratified treaty es-
tablishing an American protectorate
Havtis sovereignty is limited by that
treaty and under its terms Haytlan lnde-
incidence can never be completely reestab-
Ished. Yet Hayti is one Of the Latin
American states against the dignity OF
whose sovereign independence the Admin
istration. so the platform AYERS, has re-
fused 10 make mere material interest an
excuse for the assertion Of superior power
The government existing in Nicaragua
for several years past has been sustained
bv the military forces Of the United States
Last winter the Administration secured
the ratification of a treaty with Nicaragua
giving the United States the right TO in
tervene in Nicaragua's domestic affairs.
But the case of Nicaragua is not men
toned in the ST. Louis platform
Finally. Mexico The President has
been intervening i'm Mexico ever since he
came into office He has twice invaded
Mexican soil. and practically all our mo
bile army is now either in Mexico or con-
centrated along the border. Latin-Amerl-
can diplomats are imploring Mr. Wilson
not 10 make his advocacy Of Pan-Ameri-
canism still more ridiculous by refusing
Carranzas demands for evacuation or by
undertaking "A military occupation of all
Northern Mexico.
The platform admits that intervention,
although revolving to the people of the
United States" may be necessary. Yet
in the same breath it applauds the Presi-
dent for having stubbornly resisted suG-
gestions 20 intervene, ignoring the fact
that he has actually been intervening for
more than three years.
II would have been wiser to forego any
attempt 10 reconcile the Inconsistencies OF
Mr.. Wilson's Pan-Americanism theories
with his record i'm Mexico, Hayti and Mic
aragua. No reconciliation can possibly be
effected. One thing must come first
either Americanism or Pan-Americanisnr
Mexico is going to force Mr.. Wilson's han
again. Just as Hayti and Nicaragua have
forced it, If Intervention has been logical
and necessary in the case Of these three
states. il is shallow sentimentalism to talk
about committing the United States 10 a
perpetual guarantee of the political ind,-
pendence and territorial integrity Of all
the Latin-American republics.
cu4r.oa ~ c. / o,tis