The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-11-11
THE MONROE DOCTRINE.
Attitude Of the South American Re-
publics Toward Our Policy.

To The New YORK HERALD In your
paper on Monday there is a news item to
the effect that the Buenos Aires Nacion
states that the Latin American countries
would probably choose to abandon the
Monroe Doctrine rather than the League
of Nations.
Here is q definite admission that these
two documents are so antagonistic that
choice for one means the Reputation
of the other
While the Latin American countries
have always been more or less FESTIVE
under the application OF the Monroe
Doctrine-Brazil going so far as 10 say
What we nations OF South America
should do Is not TO admit any such doc
trine, and treat II. moreover. as IL i,
did not exist; and a Latin American
editor said, THE doctrine of Monroe is
the shield and buckler OF United States
aggression; 1t Is sword suspended by
hair over the Latin continent"--the
following points must be kept in mind:
The constitutions of the South Ameri-
can republics are all practically pat
termed after the Constitution of the
United States OF America,
The Monroe Doctrine had its birth for
the purpose OF putting a stop to Euro
pean aggression IN this hemisphere,
more especially at that time Spanish
and French aggression. II was suggest
ed by British Prime Minister-George
Canning-and was later. with perfect
consistency. employed by President
Cleveland 10 check the ambitions Of
Great Britain herself with regard to one
ne no u irh
ard Olney said OF it THE United States
Is practically sovereign on this conti-
nen,, and its fiat is law upon the sub
ject 10 which It offers its interposition."
Admiral Chester, u. s. N, said the
Monroe Doctrine Is the cardinal prin-
ciple OF the foreign policy Of the United
States. He continues. 1.-THE Monroe Doc
trine Iis1 state OF mind. II seems to
have the weight of the Ten Command
ments. which are not questioned. or linn
tied, or construed. but obeyed The
powerful sentences OF James Monroe ac-
tually gave pause to European Govern
monts. . Olney's rhetoric was more
cogent than all the logic OF Lord Sails
bury. The motto OF the popular idea
81 the doctrine OF paramount interest
might well be What the United States
says, goes.
Another author states that the South
American republics having made the
Constitution OF the United States their
own. with but slight changes. and hay
ing lived under the segis OF the Monroe
Doctrine, they should accept our mode
OF settlement OF the paramountcy of al
legiance 10 the Federal Government ms
vicarious Offering for all the republics OF
the Western Hemisphere.
The fact remains, that the Monroe
Doctrine was the fiat OF this nation,
America. under God. that European OPP
preston and aggression, both political
and ecclesiastical. would not be permit
ted on this hemisphere. and that this
nation. America, Is forever 81 separate
nation from thc' other nations of the
world Were America TO join in any
alliance or league with the other nations
Of the world she would do so only at
the cost OF multiplying her Monroe Doc
trine and losing her identity under her
Constitution. This OF course is UNI
thinkable to an American, and Is impos-
sible under the government of God
JAMES =. b. HYNDMAN.
NEW YoRK, November 10.