New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-12-16
DIR INTERESTS UNDER
THE SOUTHERN CROSS
,.,;cas Mediterranean Sea-Problems Rights Duties
and Responsbilhes-A Book for the Hour
Our Commerce and Diplomacy

tsen or controversial. As It ls not. he
might have dwclt upon what We cannot
help recalling the wild outburst OF
wrath. Of condemnation. OF obiurga-
ton. against President Roosevelt for
what was then denounced as a reckless
and wicked scheme. either Of criminal
aggression and spoliation or Of impi-
cation IN those alien entanglements
against which the Fathers were sup
posed austerely and solemnly 10 have
warned us for al time. Nor can We
help remarking that the widest and
most vociferous Of those mutations
were uttered by some VINO are now
adoring as manifestations OF inefsble
wisdom and eternal justice the Do
mnlcan and Haytian protectorates,
which SO far beyond the utmost limits
ever contemplated by President Roose-
Welt
The assumption Of a protcctorate
over people OF as turbulent a character
as those OF Hayti IS not an undertak-
ing OF small moment" says Professor
Jones. at represents = responsibility
far greater than that involved In the
treaty with the Dominican Republic.
for the population is twice as great, It
Is less peaceful and the economic re-
sources. of which the government has
control, arc greater" Yet the mere
lending of fiscal adviser and super
visor 10 Ssnto Domingo was an act Of
reckless folly in 1905, while the estab-
lishment Of full protectorate over
Hayti in 1916 is prudent and mod
crate act
Our author discusses also the purely
economic or commercial phases Of the
subject. The magnitude Of Caribbean
commerce and its growth are little APP
prcciated by the general public, or by
those who have the direction OF ma
tonsl policy In the decade l904-14
the foreign trade OF the countries Dor
dering upon the Caribbean increased
from S2-5.0O0.0 600 10 S54S 100000, or,
say. 9s per cent Those are not figures
10 be passed over lightly, particularly
when they apply 10 transactions at our
very doors "Such development.
saws the author, truly, merits the at
tention Of all interested in the expan-
sion OF the worlds foreign exchanges.
Happily, our share of that trade is
growing. In the dozen years, 1902 ID,
our exports to those countries in
creased from S71,00O,000 to Sls6,OOO,-
600. or 16l per cent. and our imports
from them from SS4,000,C0O 70 S234'-
600 600. or 176 per cent. II Is a good
work Keep il up,
The pregnant suggestion Of II al is
that We should. IN fact If not IN iorm'
establish a sort of economic Monroe
Doctrine over the countries of the
Caribbean. That would not be TO eX-
clude the trade of Europe. i would be
10 exclude the securing OF "conees-
sjoDe" which would give European ma
tions undue influence IN American
states. and il should be done by prac-
tically going in ourselves and taking
the concessions. The Lodge resolution
i'm the Magdalena Bay case is cited by
the author as a precedent and guide.
III the attitude shown IN the Magda-
lena Bay incident is an expression OF
American policy, then we must IN tact
view with serious concern any attempt
by the nationals Of a power not Amerl-
can TO control, directly or indirectly
III least. any harbor or economic re
source closely connected with military