New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-01-08
exclusion doctrines against China and

Japan.
How could we reserve to ourselves the
right to prevent European colonization in
the Americas or the introduction here Of
European monarchical institutions. If we
entered league which is 70 regulate the
political development of Europe-which is
to undertake TO settle Europe's internal
problems?
The question answers itself. Some sup
porters Of the President may shrink from
accepting the logic of his position. But
they can prove that that position Is com
patible with a maintenance of the Monroe
Doctrine and our Asiatic exclusion policy
only by admitting that what the President
says about joining league Of nations to
enforce peace means practically nothing
at all.
We cannot agree with them that it
means nothing. Our government has been
playing fast and loose with the Monroe
Doctrine for the last three years. 1t has
had no fixed policy so far as the applica-
ton Of the doctrine is concerned. In deal
ing with Hayti, the Dominican Republic
and Nicaragua President Wilson has rec
ognized the responsibility resting on the
United States under the Monroe Doctrine
to compel backward Latin-American states
to discharge their just obligations to Eu-
ropean nationals. We have imposed po-
litical prctectorates on these three countries
e. TOD Int q
order and to pay their foreign debts. But
in the case Of Mexico the Administration
has repudiated all obligation TO restore
internal order or to coerce the Mexican
government into giving protection to the
lives and property of European nationals
or even of American citizens.
The Monroe Doctrine can be denatured
just as easily by accepting what is loosely
called the doctrine of Pan-Americanism as
by entering a worldwide international
concert for the elimination of friction be-
tween nations. Mr.. Wilson and Mr.. Ian
sing have coquetted with Pan-American-
ism. They went so far as to draft
treaty creating Pan-American concert
and committing control of the relations
between the United States and the other
American nations to a Pan-American di-
rectorate, in which the United States
would have but one vote out of twenty
one or twenty-five.
What chance of survival would the Mon
roe Doctrine have in such a board? The
II h7f
own interest, it will guarantee the Latin
American states against European coloni-
zation, against further territorial acquisi-
tons in America by European govern
ments and against European interference
in American affairs. But the right. as
we'll as the power, to guarantee these
things will pass out of our hands If we
leave il to a Pan-American concert to reg
ulate the dealings of Latin-American
states among themselves and with Europe.
We shall be powerless to restrain misgov-
eminent in demoralized states like Hayti,
the Dominican Republic and Mexico. We
shall no longer be able to make good on
our obligation to protect in the Americas
the rights Of the nationals Of European
countries whose governments We ask to
refrain from political intervention on their
own account.
This Administration has therefore al
ready given the Monroe Doctrine some
nearly fatal knocks. 1t is but a step from
refusing TO intervene in Mexico for the
protection of foreign residents and the res
toration of order to permitting or asking
the powers Of Europe to intervene. If we
are now going to engage in settling the
future relations between Belgium and
Germany, why should Germany, and every
other European power, not engage here
after in settling the relations between
Mexico and The United States?
Pan-Americanism leads directly to in
ternationalism. A concert to regulate the
affairs Of the two Americas is but a step
ping stone to a concert to regulate the
affairs of the world. Monroeism is a con-
ception of nationalsm-a symbol Of the
supremacy Of the United States in sphere
from which she has warned off all intrud-
ers. Pan-Americanism recognizes the
equality within that sphere Of all the
other American nations. An international
concert inevitably lets in all the other
countries of the world.
There is no use trying to deceive our
selves with phrases like Senator Lewis's.
The Monroe Doctrine and our other pc
cuIiarly nationalstic doctrines are not
guarded" or preserved in President
Wilson's peace note. The Monroe Doctrine
may be uroribund. 1t may have received its
death blow in this world war, which has so
completely destroyed the illusion Of Ameri-
can isolation.
We cannot he sure about that yet.
There may be a revival Of nationalism in
ltbo limited States which will compel a