Great Falls daily tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1895-1921, 1920-02-08
atin-American Repub-
lies Watch Request to
Determine What They
Tie Up in the League.
No Fixed Criterion as
to Relationship it I'm
i plies Among Western
Nations Is Criticism.

Washington. Feb. 7.-tBy The As
soclated Press.l - Latin American
countries which participated in the
peace conference and also those which
have been invited to join the league of
nations are watching the request OF
Salvador that tie United States define
the Monroe doctrine. so that they will
know just what they are agreeing to
If they Join the league.
The state department has acknowl-
edged receipt of TIE request from Juan
Franco Parcdes. minister for foreign
affairs of Salvador. It now remains
with President Wilson to draft d reply.
Meanwhile Latin American states
men are discussing the question, and
some Of the Latin American countries
are delaying joining the league until
= the definition of the Monroe doctrine
is made.
Desires to Eenter League, 1t Says
The reference to the Monroe doctrine
is in article 81 of the covenant Of the
league Of nations. For the first time
the text of the communication Of the
Salvadofean government is made pub
lie. 1t recites that. despite its neu-
trality in the war. Salvador manifested
tits sympathy on every occasion for the
ideals which animated the government
Of the United States in entering the
war. praises President Wilson for
baving crystallized the Legitimate
hopes of a. fruitful peace. by submitting
the draft of league of nations cove
nant.' says Salvador "manifests the de-
sire to adhere TO this treaty which sane
tions arbitration as the only method
pf settling disputes between nations
and continues:
The whole text Of the treaty is both
suggestive and attractive. Il
Doctrine Not Clear 1t Holds.
The text contains, however. one ar
ticlc which has awakened warm discus
sons throughout the whole American
continent. including the United States
due to its brevity and lack Of clear
ness. | refer to Article Il, drafted in
the following terms:
Nothing in this covenant shall
be deemed to affect the validity of
international engagements. such as
treaties of arbitration or region
al understandings like the Monroe
doctrine, for securing the mainten-
ance of peace
THE legal scope Of this provision
from an international viewpoint is oprn
10 differing interpretations, since in the
vast scheme Of the league Of nations.
treaties of arbitration and regional I'm
derstandings such as the Monroe doc
trine are recognized and sanctioned, d.
spite the fact that as to the highly
peaceful purpose of the latter doctrine
there does NOT exist harmonious meet
ing of minds nor an absolute criterion
Meaning Conformed to Politics.
From the year 1923. in which the
distinguished James Monroe rejected all
intervention by European nations in the
affairs of the American continent to the
present day. this doctrine has undergone
different applications depending upon the
divers political tendencies prevailing III
that particular time III the United
States. ***
My government recognizes that the
Monroe doctrine consolidated the indie
Dendence of the continental states Of
Latin America and saved them from the
great danger of a European Intervention.
1t realizes that it is powerful factor
in the existence of the democratic form
Of government on this cont y nt and
that it raised a barrier to European
colonization.
May Be Seed of Pan-American Law.
Since. however. the covenant of the |
league of nations does not set forth nor
determine the purposes nor fixed definite /
criterion Of international relationship in +
America: and since. on the other hand /
the doctrine viii be forthwith trans
fOrmed-in view Of the full sanction If |
the nations of the world--into a prin- /
ciplc Of universal public law. juris ct de I
CONTINUED on Page Two.)