Perth Amboy evening news., 1919-07-03
THE AUTHORS
The Monroe DoctrIne.

Article XXI of the revised Covenant
of the League provides as follows;
Nothing in this covenant shall be
deemed to affect the validity OF inter-
national engagements such as tfeaIleS
of arbitration or regional understand
ings like the TTOnTSs-Doctrlne Ior Sc
curing the maintenance OF peace.
1t is asserted hat this article does
not adequately reserve the Monroe
Doctrine because it is not a regional
understanding" and its purpose is not
the maintenance of peace II Is
also objected that although the Mon
roe Doctrine is a national policy any
dispute concerning its reservation IN
Article XXI shall be submitted TO
the League of Arbitration or e&-
animation under Articles XIII OF XIV
The reason for these objections dis
appears upon an examination OF the
general purpose of the League ana
the character and effect of the Mon
roe Doctrine.
Its Origin.
In 1928 a number of South Amerl-
can states, having thrown off the
yoke of Spain, had become indepen-
dent republics. it was believed n a
the European powers constituting the
Holy Alliance were planning to over
turn the independence of the new
states and by making them colonies
of a European state to introduce in
this hemisphere the autocratic mon
archial principle. 1t was to Illustrate
such a design that President Monroe
in his annual message to Congress
said:
I'VE should consider any attempt
on their part-the part of European
powers to extend their systems to any
portion of this hemisphere-as dan
gerous to our peace and safety" and
1--WE could not view any interposition
for the purpose of expressing them
| the young American Republics-or
controlling in any other European
power in any other light than as a
manifestation of an u~nfriendiy dispo-
sition toward the United States.
How It developed.
The principle of the Doctrine thus
| proclaimed has been so developed dur
| ing the last hundred years that it now
includes the prohibition of attempts
| by foreign nations, whether by wal
or purchase or diplomatic intrigue,
to make territorial acquisitions Or cs-
! tablish new strategical footholds,
upon or near the Western Hemis-
in the domestic affairs of American
nations.
The Monroe Doctrine is not a
r Va AAlC 1GLkANA1C AUnH IL la
a national policy based upon the right
of every nation to protect itselt
against acts tending to embarress ii
in preserving its national inter-
ests. of political institutions. 1t is
founded upon the same right as the
familiar concert Of European powers
except hat it affects a greater num-
Der of nations more widely separated
geographically, and is asserted by a
single powerful nation able, without
the sanction Of treaty stipulations, to
maintain it. 1t does not become ef-
fective so much by the acquiescene
of the American nations subject t
its operation as from its recognition
by nations of other parts of the world
as a political policy which cannot be
disregarded by them except at the
risk of var with the United States
Since the Monroe Doctrine is thus
based upon al inherent national right
it Is entirely consistent with the prin-
ciple of mutual self-protection, UNI
DERIVING Article x of the Covenant OF
the League which seeks to check
threatened external aggression af.
fecting "the territorial ~integriey and
existing political independence of al
members of the League"
Broad Purpose of Article X.
While doubtless Article x was de.
signed primarily to give protection
to the sever new European republic.
and the four autonomous nations il
the Near East, created under tn,
Treaty of Peace, and probably alst
to France and Belgium, in it's broadel
aspect 1t was intended, in the words O.