The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-05-01
The British Interpretation OF the
Monroe Doctrine in the
League OF Nations.

IOCiatcQ freSS rs a series OF COM
on the revised covenant
# the League Of Nations, in which
heir definite views" thereon were
At this moment the COM
nentary which has to do with the
Monroe Doctrine Is Of paramount
interest in the United States, and we
'eprint this passage in full:
"Article Xxi. makes it clear the
covenant Is not intended to abrogate
or weaken any other agreements so
long as they are consistent with it's
own terms. into which members of
the League may have entered or may
hereafter enter for tho assurance of
peace.
such agreements would include
special treaties for compulsory arbi-
tration and military conventions that
are genuinely defensive.
Tho Monroe Doctrine and similar
understandings are put in the same
category.
They have shown themselves in his
tory to be not instruments Of national
ambition but guarantees,of peace.
The origin Of the Monroe Doc
trine is we'll known.
1T was proclaimed in 1923 to pre-
vent America from becoming a the
atrs for intrigues of European alb
solutism.
AT first a principle of American
foreign policy. it has become an in
ternational understanding, and It il
not iliegitimate for the people of the
United States to say that tho cove
nant should recognise that fact.
in its essence It is consistent with
the spirit OF the covenant. and. in
deed. the principles Of the League as
expressed in Article X. represent tho
extension to the whole world OF the
principles Of this doctrine. while
should any dispute as to the meaning
"a tHo tottSE CNCE aiiSS pclWNcLl lhC
American and European Powers the
League Is there TO settle IT,"
Disregarding the assumption that
the Monroe Doctrine has passed from
the status of an American foreign
policy" to that of an international
Observation-Disclosures that phrase
may meant is imperative to con
slider the import of the declaration
that should any dispute as to the
meaning of the principles of the Mon,
roe Doctrine ever arise between the
and European Powers "the
League is there to settle It,"
The significance Of this assertion Is
that in the opinion of the British dele
CATION, should league of nations be
formed on the basis Of the covenan,
adopted by the Peace Conference in
plenary council on Monday, interpre
tation of the. principles of the Mon
roe Doctrine would become the func
ton Of the League Of Nations and
not Of the people Of the United State.
acting through their Government.
In other words, under this concep
ton the Monroe Doctrine, which, a.
THE SUN has pointed out heretofore
is not a part of international law
but a political policy Of the United
States, proclaimed by the United
States and depending wholly on til,
United States for enforcement, woult
be removed from the exclusive juris
diction of the United States and IL
its application to any given set of cir
cumstances subjected to the decisions
of a cosmopolitan tribunal in which
the nation which gave it force ant
validity would have but one vote.
Thus the inclusion Of the Monro,
Doctrine in the draft Of the covenan
Of the League of Nations is not, a.
has been asserted, q recognition" o
the Doctrine, as 1t Is understood II
the United States, but, in the view y
the British delegation, that inclusion
actually amounts to formal, specif,
surrender of the principles underlyin,
the Doctrine to the judgment an,
wisdom of the League Of Nations.
If this conception Is correct, II tn,
British commentary accurately de
scribes the effect produced upon tn,
Monroe Doctrine by Article MI. o
the League of Nations covenant, tina
article not only does not protect u
but in fact deprives us Of the RICH
10 determine FOR ourselves when an,
by what means the Monroe Doctrin
shall be applied in any situation
which may arise.
There could be no more complet
surrender Of national sovereignty b.
the United States than that which /
contemplated In this submission o
the Monroe Doctrine to a council o
parliament composed OF representa-
tives OF foreign Powers. If the Brit
ish delegation correctly interprets tn
purpose Of Article MI. In the cove
nant this article means that a ma
tional policy enunclated almost Ger
fury ago, unanimously upheld by tn
people of the United States for al
most three generations, resorted
on numerous occasions by ADMINISTERS
|. lions of all partisan complexions 70