Evening star., 1919-03-19

this 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 Cecil's announcement,
published today, from Paris is an in
teresting corrollary to the position of
Chile. He declared that IF the Mon
roe doctrine means. as j believe it
does. that there ought to be no in
reference with affairs on the Amer
lean continent by European powers
without the consent of the United
States. then say that the doctrine is
strengthened by the league of ma
tions.'
What Lord Robert Means.
What Lord Robert means is that the
United States as d meElcer of the ex-
ecutive council can always assert her
objection to anything that seems an
encroachment by any European or
Asiatlc power on the principles under.
lying the Monroe doctrine. and. of
course, a single objection in the ex-
ecutive council would be sufficient to
prevent action being taken, because
decisions to be effective must be unan-
iimous in the council.
Lord Roberts statement that he
doubted if it was wise to put any one
power in special position in the
league will be disputed by many
Americans on the ground that If, as
he says. the Monroe doctrine is
strengthened by the covenant, a spe-
cific provision making clear the prin-
ciple underlying the Monroe doctrine
European non-interference in Amer
lean affairs-must necessarily be
supplementary or explanatory and
not. therefore, within the confines of
"a special position" as the term is
used in diplomacy.
South Americans Position.
If the United States, on the other
hand, really wants reservation on the
Monroe doctrine without specifically de-
lining that doctrine, it is unlikely that
the South American countries will be
in favor of the league.
Many of them have never admitted
that the Monroe doctrine gave Ameri-
ca unlimited rights to polcie Central
and South America, and on tie oc-
casoin of a pan-American conference
in Rio de Janero few years ago,
Chile publicly declined to congratu-
in which the Monroe doctrine had
been enforced. chiefly because her
statesmen argued that they did not
believe President Monroe ever in
tended that, the United States while
keeping European countries out of
self be free to do as she pleased in
this hemisphere.
War Interrupted Treaty.
President Wilson attempted three
years ago to show the good faith of
the United States by a pan-American
treaty involving a mutual guarantee
of territorial integrity by all the re-
pubiics of this hemisphere The Eu-
ropean war interfered with the ad-
vancement of the treaty. 1t is sub
stantially the same doctrine which
the President has now had included in
the covenant and that is why so many
or the Latin American countries see
IN the league of nations mutual
guarantee of their political and ter
rltorIai integrity.
If America insisted on a reservation
with respect to the Monroe doctrine
without defining it, opposition would
come from the same South American
countries who now declare their will
1ngness TO enter the league. So far
as Pan-American solidarity is con-
cerned, no proposition for the con-
duct of affairs in this hemisphere has
ELECTED such genuine support as the
league of nations plan. and the sin
cerity of the United States in her pro-
testations of justice toward weaker
and smaller nations is at stake in the
discussion over the Monroe doctrine.
Would Claim Vindication.
II the United States is not satisfied
with the league plan as involving
mutual guarantee Of territorial integrity
and wants to leave the Monroe doctrine
uninterrupted. those who have been
arguing in anita merican publications
in the last generation in Latin-America
that the foreign policy of the United
States had become an effort to extend
hegemony over Central and South
America will declare themselves vindi-
Gated.
On the other hand, true friends Of
the Cnited States. if the league plan
is accepted. will be able to say
throughout South America that the
United States. while anxious to keep
any European or Asiatic power from
coloniZing in this hemisphere, is will
ing TO circumscribe herself at all
times from exploiting by force the re-
publics to the south of her who are
physically weaker than the great and
powerful United States of North
America
Latin American ambassadors and
ministers are keenIy interested in
what the various speakers in the
United states are saying just now
about the Monroe doctrine. and are
cabling these speeches to the peoples
of their respective countries. Refusal
TO accept the league of nations plan
because il doesn't protect Central and
South America sufficiently-whichw was
the original purpose of the Monroe
doctrine-will lead il is freely pre-
dicted. by those in contact with Latin
American affairs to emphatic pro-
nouncements by these countries to the
effect that they who should be the
best judges Of their own safety-do
not feel unprotected by the league
but safeguarded. and that overinsist-
snce on some interpretations of the
Monroe doctrine which have been
publicly disputed by South American
countries will cause the United
states to lose much Of the prestige
she has gained in Central and South
America in recent years.
Statements Worth Watching.
Latin Americas statements, there
fore, are worth watching as bearing
particularly on the cementing Of
5ffendly relations with Central and
South America-a cardinal point in
f1fe foreign policy of the United
States as supported by the national
platforms of all political parties here
rs well as by many trade and finan-
gfdl ORGANIZATIONS who belfeve Amer