New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-09-05
MuddIing the Monroe Doctrine.


Lansing had been planning to shunt aside
the Monroe Doctrine for new doctrine OF
Pan-Americanism. What has become OF
that interesting document? The Tribune's
Washington dispatches reported the other
day that it had been pigeonholed because
of the fear that its submission would lead
TO a highly embarrassing discussion OF the
Inconsistencies of the Administrations
Mexican, Haytian, Nicaraguan and Do
minican policies.
In his Shadow Lawn address Mr.. Will
son said that he had failed to protect
American lives and property in Mexico be-
cause he did not want to abridge the right
of the Mexican people to indulge in revolu-
ton. That was an echo of a sentiment
which he expressed in his annual message
TO Congress last December. Recalling then
some phrases in the Virginia Declaration
of Rights, he announced that he stood for
the inalienable right Of a people to change
their government by force, even though, as
he now adds, such a revolution may in
volve great violence to the rights of neigh
boring peoples.
Yet one of the sections of the Pan
American League treaty provided for
guaranteeing by joint action the stability
of each existing American government
and for discountenancing revolution by
Withholding all military supplies from
revolutionary factions.
The Pan-American convention would
bind the United States to recognize the ter
rtorial integrity and complete political
independence of every existing Latin
American republic. Under the Monroe
Doctrine we have promised to protect these
Latin-American nations against aggres-
sion on the part of European powers. We
have done that primarily in our own in
terest-to fortify our position in the West
ern Hemisphere. But we have never con-
tempated giving those republics which are
backward and misgOverned free hand to
embroil us with Europe-to kill European
residents, destroy or confiscate European
property, repudiate European debts or in
trigue with European powers to our dis
advantage.
The United States must judge for itself
how far it shall give bonds to respect the
sovereignty Of the backward republics
whose independence we guarantee against
European coercion.
We have attached limitations to Cuba's
sovereignty and to Panama's. We have
established a partial protectorate over
H., ,s,,so lie
Mr.. Wilson himself sent marines into
Hayti and imposed on the Haytian govern
ment treaty setting up an American pro-
tectorate Without declaring war he has
twice dispatched military expeditions into
Mexico and occupied Mexican territory for
months at a time, in spite of the protests
of existing Mexican governments-one of
them officially recognized by him-against
those violations Of national sovereignty.
Yet all the while he and Mr.. Lansing
have been working on a convention con-
demning in principle the policy Of inter
vention in the affairs of backward and mis-
governed Latin-American nations which
they have pursued under a legitimate in
depreciation Of the Monroe Doctrine.
No wonder the Pan-American blind pool,
mutual guarantee scheme has lapsed! How
could Latin-American diplomats any
longer be expected to take Mr.. Wilson's
and Mr. Lansing's professions seriously?
How could the Pan-Americanism conven-
ton escape slashing criticism in Senate
which only recently ratified treaties sent
it by the President legalizing our mill
tary intervention in Hayti and Nicaragua?
But in order to cover up the miserable
failure Of his Mexican programme Mr..
Wilson at Shadow Lawn asserted that he
didn't intervene in Mexico TO the extent of
protecting American lives and property,
but confined himself merely to accelerating
revolution there, because all Latin Amer
lea was looking on"
Test is now being made Of US whether
we be sincere lovers Of popular liberty or
not, and are indeed 20 be trusted 10 re-
spect national sovereignty among our
weaker neighbors." But if such a test is
being made the Presidents own policy in
Hayti, Nicaragua and Mexico cannot meet
it. II is pure hypocrisy 20 say that there
is any obligation resting on the United
States 20 meet such test at the expense
Of our own citizens, at the sacrifice Of
American lives and property interests.
The Monroe Doctrine scarcely applies
any more % the stronger Latin-Amcrican
nations. They are able 10 take care Of
themselves and 80 set up their own sphere
Of interest in the Southern Continent. Our
relations with them are no longer on the
same plane with our relations with the
weaker powers Of the West Indies and the
Caribbean. The United States cannot af-
ford 20 forego itg role as guardian Of the
Interest," and destiny Of these latter nations,
for their backward condition, hampering