The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-03-20
FOREIGN VIEW ON
MONROE DOCTRINE
IS SIGNIFICANT
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.
The News seimltar's Special corrs.
nnnNan

d ia LA w RENEE.
Ihe News seimltar's Special CORE.
apondent.
WARRINGTON. March 2O.-Perhaps
more significant than any Of the ar
eumeats being made for or against
The league Of nations on the ground
tldt impatrs the Monroe doctrine
ere the series Of statements being
sathened by the Associated Press from
~ various foreign ministers Of South
american countries. Yesterdays ca
PIES declaring the adherence OF Chile
ahd uruguay to the league caused much
sau&action here, for Brazil already
mas expressed herself enthusiastically
~ tavor OF the league and Argentina
Is similarly anxious for its ratification,
Juoglnk from the numerous editorial
comtpents from influential wspap
Interpreted In the light of Chile's
atutude of hesitation in the past with
respect to Pan-American solidarity, es-
pecially her unwillingness at any time
to admit that the United States or
any other country possessed any
hegemony over independent nations in
TINS hemisphere, the acceptance of the
league is regarded as proof that Chile
does not feel her safety has in any
way been impaired by the language
or Import of the league Of nations plan.
Lord Robert Cecirs announcement
published from Paris IL an interesting
eorrollary to the position OF Chile. ne
declared that, IF the Monroe doctrine
means. as l believe 1t does, that there
ought to be no interference with ar
european powers without the consent
Of the United States, then | say that
the doctrine Is strengthened by the
league Of nations"
What Lord Robert means Is that
the United States, as a member Of the
executive council, can always assert
her objection TO anything that >seems
an eneroachment by any European or
Aslatic power on the principles under.
lying the Monroe doctrine, and Of
course a single objection in the execu-
tive council would be Sufficient TO pre-
vent action being taken, because de-
c%isions, to be effective. must be unani-
Lord Roberts statement that he
doubted If It was wise to put any one
power in a special position on the
league would be disputed by many
Americans on the ground that If he
says the Monroe doctrine is strength
ened by the covenant. a specific pro-
vision making clear the principle I'M
DERIVING the Monroe doctrine-Euro-
pean nonlnterference in American al
fairs-must necessarily be supplement
airy or explanatory and not, therefore'
within the confines OF ~ special POSI-
1 ZION, Hb lIlt Atlit - uGNu ~ NAt'NN"L~'
II the United States, mn the other
hand, really wants n reservation ON
the Monroe doctrine without speclflcaliiy
defining that doctrine. 1t - unlikely,
that the South American countries VII
be In favor of the league, Many OF
them have never admitted that tne
Monroe doctrine gave America unllm-
tied rights to police Central and south
America, and on the occasion OF a
Pan American conference . RIO &c
Janeiro a few years ago, Chile pup,
licly declined to congratulate the United
States on the manner ia Whlch the
Monroe doctrine had been enforced,
chiefly because her statesmen argued
that they did not believe the ,presi,
dent ever intended that the United
4 States, while keeping European coun
tries out OF Central and South Amer
lea, should herself be free to do as
she pleased In this hemisphere,
President Wilson attempted three
years ago to show the good talth ol
the United States by a AmerlceI
treaty involving q mutual guarantee
OF territorial integrity by all the ,ge'
Dubiics of this hemisphere me Bg.
ropean wal interferred with the "a"
vsncsment Of the treaty. 1t Is sub.
stantlaIly the same doctrine which this
resident has now included in the cove
nant and that Is why so many OF tht
Latin American countries see IN tnt
league OF nations q mutual guarantee
Of their political and territorial lnteg'
II America insisted on a revision witt
respect to the Monroe doctrine wlthou,
definins 1t, opposition would come IRON
the South American countries VINO nov
declare their willingness TO enter w
league. So far as Pan-Amerlean SOL.
darIty Is concerned, nc proposition tol
the conduct of affairs In this heml
snhAre has eliclted such genuine sup
mort as the league OF nations plan, ant
ATTEMPTS TO put the sincerity of tn
limited States In her protestations O
Justice toward weaker and smaller ma
tho Monroe doctrine. II the Unlle,
states Is not satisfied with the league
nlan Al involving a mutual guarantee o
territorial integrity and wants to leaV,
tho Monroe doctrine uninterpreted
those who have been arguing, IN anti
American publication in the last gen
Grafton In Latin America that me tor
eian policy OF the United states hat
become an effort to extend heSemonl;
over Central and South America vii
declare themselves indicated.
on the other hand, true friends o
the United States, II the league plaf
is accepted, will be able to say through
out South America that the United
States, while anxious to keep any Eu'
ropean or Asiatic power IRON colohlI
ing in this hemisphere Is wiling t'
circumscrihe herself at all times iron
exploiting by force the republics to TN
south Of her who are physically weakel
thar the great and powerful United
States of North America. Latn-Amer'
can ambassadors and ministers ar
keenly interested in what the various
sneakers in the United States are say
ms lust now about the Monroe doctrine
ana are cabling these speeches to tn
naonIks az their respective countries