The Greeneville daily sun. (Greeneville, Tenn.) 1918-1920, 1919-04-28
MEXICO AND THE MONROE DOCTRINE.

ocIEtbe Al OF OF
natioans is the amendment which provides that the Mon
doctrine shall be affected 1t was at first contend
ed that the Monroe doctrine extended to the Whole
world" u1icrous statement which served boom
erang upon those w.o uttered it. and then to the
league the western half of the world exempted from
its operation The Monroe doctrine would have stood in
any event. for there has never been any intention OF
abandoning it, notwithstanding the ohand announcement
by sefapponted naton-savers that TIE doctrine lob
solete."
Now comes the Mexican government announcing that
refuses to recognize tie Monroe doctrine any other
proposition that attacks tie sovereignty of Mexico This
announcement IS in itself confession of ignorance, fol-
the Monroe doctrine has attacked the sovereignty
of Mexico but the contrary has repeatedly preserved
Mexico for the Mexicans. There would have been nc
Mexican republic but for the Monroe doctrine
The Mexican government is not making this announce
ment gnorany however, if it missates the nature
of the doctrine The purpose is quite clear. The new
constitution of Mexico drawn up perfected by that
master builder Lincoln Stefens contains provisions which
enable corrupt government to conscatc the property
of foreigners; that is, if foreign governments will permit
the outrage Inasmuch there is now corrupt govern
ment in Mexico and government that is sorey in neec
of money the process of spoliaton is about to be at
tempted The Mexican congress- dominated by the "frs
chief" is about to meet and it is secret of open dplo
macy that President Carranza is about to push through
enacments which will deprive foreign interests of thel
holdings in Mexico.
The Monroe doctrine is the thorn in the side of Car
rama It spells defeat Of any scheme for wrongng for
egners in Mexico if it employed properly and with en-
ergy. While the extreme patience of President Wilson
in dealing with Carranza apparently gives the Mexican
eader little cause for anxiety the fact remains that the
United States can stay his hand and may be required
10 so within a few weeks months.
Nothing added to the force of the Monroe doctrine
by acknowledging in the text of the league Of nations
would have just strong if it had not been honor
ed by mention in that famous scrap of paper. Never
theless the Mexican has not failed to note
that European governments have readily accepted the
Monroe doctrine as measure for promoting and main
tanning peace The last hope that Mexico might have en-
tertaned for the death of the Monroe doctrine has gone
yimmering, for if league of nations should be
IL
Mexico must still face the fact that government, how
ever incompetent corrupt betray the people OF
Mexico into foreign bondage deny to foreign govern
mens and persons their just dues the Monroe doctrine
shall be invoked to prevent such action
That the United States will be asked by Great Britain
and France to invoke the Monroe doctrine against injury
20 their interests in Mexico is certainty Car
ANA puts foot his proposed scheme of spoaon The
league of nations will not be invoked There may be nc
eague Great Britain and France will rely upon the
United States to protect them against Carranzas exploit
aton Recent acquisitions by British interests have dis
osed that the British government is necessarily required
protect vital part of its system of national defense
namely the supply of fuel and oil for the fleet France
equally bound to protect the large interests of its citizens
Mexico No doubt Italy and Spain also will expect the
United States to intercede for them Finally, there are
American interests in Mexico greater perhaps than al
other foreign interests combined which deserve the pro
lection of the United States
The attempt to enforce bolshevik provision of The
Mexican constitution is therefore contingent upon the
nonenforcement of the Monroe doctrine He chooses
Argentina the country through which to notify the
world of his Forthcoming performance in the role of Ajax
lefyng the Colossus of the North Possibly Carranza
,ects the allies to exhibit toward him the tolerance they
1ave shown toward Lenine He may have been informed
~ his political guide, Mr. Seens that the triumph Of
boshevism is near Or he may be merely relying upop
he former policy of neglect adopted by the United States
onward its citizens in Mexico.
In any case the European nations will find the Monroe
doctrine sufficient to protect them against Mexican depre
iations if they will insist upon its vigorous application
Washington Post
Take popular vote in the Philippines first, whether
the people there want to be part of this great nation
not