South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-07-01
THE MONROE DOCTRINE
Continued


80 definition OF the Monroe doe
trine having oriciaI sanction has
ever been given except by presidents
or secretaries OF state. and. except
in the few concrete cases that have
required its application. they have
generally contented themselves with
describing its historical origin and
the general principle on which IT IS
founded Even the senate. in ratify-
ing the Hague convention in 1907
and in seeking 10 reserve the Mon
roe doctrine. referred To il as our
traditional attitude toward purely
American questions" leaving the
character Of that attitude" as much
subject TO question by the signatories
Is il had been before the reservation
was made And. although. on the
one hand Sec'y Olney in 1895. in the
Venezuelan controversy, said To
day the United State is practically
sovereign on this continent and its
fat is law upon the subjects 10 which
it confines its interposition'. on the
other hand. Pres't Roosevelt in 1901
said that the Monroe doctrine did
not prevent foreign nation1 from col
lecting by force debts owing by
American nations, and in 1856 this
country refused TO protect Chill
when Spain was bombarding her
ports because il would not intervene
in wars between European and
American states If they are not
pushed 10 the political point
Difficult to Define.
These references serve 10 point
out the difficulty Of an attempt in
any diplomatic document to define
the Monroe doctrine.
But however inaccurate it may
be TO refer TO the Monroe doctrine
as a regional understanding" Ar
ticle XXI correctly describes is as
securing the maintenance of
peace" 1t was of the essence of the
doctrine that foreign nations should
not be permitted 10 'implant among
the nations of the western hem
isphere autocratic principles of gov
eminent lest they should become a
menace TO the free institutions of
the United States. and we might
again have TO resort to arms for the
maintenance Of the principles set
tied by the revolution; and in prac-
tice the dominance of this country
in the affairs of the western hem
isphere has undoubtedly saved IL
from repeated exploitation at the
hands Of European and Asiatic ma
tions. The frequent revolutions in
South and Central America, often
accompanied by the seizure of power
in the name of liberty by dislOyal
and INSCRIPTIONS dictators, WOULD
have afforded tempting opportunities
to European autocracies at small eX-
pense and by the use Of "A merely
nominal force. to secure a perman-
ent foothold upon this continent
gradually establishing. colonies which
would have become menace to our
republican institutions, or at least q
source OF national disquietude. AL
i OL LAlAS has UttlA IA tNtAAANA NANAAbA'
/ the use in a single instance of mill
/ tarv force by the Monroe doctrine
| which is. therefore, aptly described
/ in article XXI as securing the
maintenance of peace
\ Possible Reservation.
But If the senate is of the opinion
[ that the use of the words "regiona
understanding creates any doubt a:
/ to the meaning of article XXI, II
| can. in ratifying the treaty make &
I declaration that its action is taker
under the reservation that the GOV
enant is 10 be so construed as tC
| leave the Monroe doctrine unaffect-
ed In view of the general purpose
\ and effect of the league. referred Il
I above. such "A reservation would no
| be regarded as a substantial amend
ment of the covenant Upon thii
point the official commentary OF the
/ delegates of Great Britain upon th'
I revised vocenant is particularly
pertinent. They refer 10 the Monroe
doctrine and similar understanding
as having shown themselves il
! history 10 be not instruments Of ma
tioual ambition but guarantees O
I peace and add: