The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1920-03-11
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.
Copyright by The. Reformer,

NCOilYIlpHG by. Int IAtAsJ
WASHINGTON, March 1I-While
the senate of the United States has
been debating reservations, especially
one that would permit this country
alone to interpret the Monroe Doctrine,
the governments of Central and South
America have quietly sought and OBJ
tanned an Interpretation of that doc
trine which rivals in Importance the
original declaration by President Mon
roe.
The government of Salvador was the
leader in the movement which has now
taken on all the formahty necessary
to make the definition given by Presi-
dent Wilson an integral part of inter
national law. For the covenant of the
league of nations will become inter
national law so far as the members are
concerned, and Salvador has just de
cided to enter the league with the un-
derstanding of the Monroe Doctrine of
ficiallv given her by the department of
state upon instruction from President
| Wilson. Some future administration
| can, of course, interpret the Monroe
| Doctrine differently for it is a national
policy but the legal value of an ex-
ception noted at the time of entrance
| to the league cannot be exaggerated.
! As the senate of the United States had
phrased the Monroe Doctrine it was
only to be interpreted by the United
States alone but any incoming mem
Der of the league would have been in
the position of signing blank check
accepting any Interpretation which fu-
ture administrations might seek to i'm
pose. At least now they have defnl-
tion on which they can base future
protests.
Practically all the Central and South
American governments have obtained
copies of the correspondence between
the state department and the legation
Of Galvador and called it to the atten-
ton of their governments, each of
which in all probability on. entering
he league of nations will make refer
ence to the definition given by Presi-
dent Wilson and thus protect them
selves legally against wrongful use OF
the Monroe Doctrine in the future, q
circumstance that has kept Spanish
j. American countries suspicious of the
United States for a long time.
The government of Salvador through
its alert minister here was careful not
10 llY TO ueulH tIIG 4hOuiOC DOttilitC
respecting the same as purely a nation
al policy of the United States. But
at the same time it was deemed moi
) improper to ask the United States fol-
| an interpretation. Acting Secretary
Polk in his formal note to Salvador
said:
9 The views of this government Will
reference to the Monroe Doctrine were
- . H. lN..nr
r dent of the United States to the SeconC
: Pan American scientific congress, cop,
Of the pertinent portions of which
beg to attach herewith. -
: Then follows this extract from tn
: speech of President Wilson, Jan.
1915:
"The Monroe Doctrine was pro
claimed by the United States on he
t own authority. Ii always has bee
t maintained and always will be main
. tanned upon her own responsibility
. But the Monroe Doctrine demande
that European governments should no
: attempt to extend their political sys
TENS to this side of the Atlantic,
did not disclose the hse which tn
United States intended TO make of he
power on this side of the Atlantic
was a hand held no III warning bu
there was no promise in it of wha
America was going to do with the in
piled and partial protectorate whic
she apparently was trying to set up Q
: this side of the water, and l beley
you will sustain me in the statemer
that it has fears and suspicious Q
this score which have hitherto proven
ed the greater intimacy and confdenC
and trust between the Americas. TT
states of America have not been ce
tain what the United States would {
with her power. That doubt must
removed. And latterly there has bee