South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1920-12-19

gobble up Central America and
Panama and then begin 10 absorb
Colon bia and Venezuela. From
that vantage point according 20 tins
carefully proI agated idea, we would
insist on supervision Of the rest OF
South America.
Fear OF our ambitions had LONG
been instiIied in Iatin-America be-
fore the great war. All the Euro
pean nations had a hand N IL.
Britain included, and the result
had been the formation OF what was
known as the A B. G combination
Argentine, Brazil and Chile
which demanded that II should have
an equal voice with Washington il
all matters affecting American ma
tions This group took a strong
hand in the Mexican situation when
we had our trouble with Huertl:
and Pres't Wilson recognized rs
right 10 be heard.
Since the war we have had an
other concrete example OF this feel
ing. Chile, Peru and Bolivia al
most came 10 blows last year over
the disputed provinces Of Tacna and
africa in northern Chile. which all
claim. Washington undertook 10
exert It's good offices for peace. only
10 be told very emphatically by
Chile that The row was none OF its
business: and TO find other Latin
nations backing up the Chiieans.
See Peril I'm Monroe Doctrine.
The worst feature is the danger
the I.atins see in the survival Of the
Monroe Doctrine. The best ele-
ments in these nations appreciate
the great benefits the Doctrine has
bestowed In permitting them TO de-
velop their governments free from
the domination OF the European i'm
perial powers: but they insist that
the very or Grafton of the Doctrine
is forcing the United States more
and more to take control Of Latin
affairs.
The way II works is this: Some
Latin nation bOrrows from Euro
peans or gives Europeans conces-
sions and does not carry out is OBJ
treated or killed. The European
nation demands that we permit it
TO exact reparation and protect It's
nationals. We refuse. II then In
sists that II we will not let il act
we must do something TO protect
interests and lives. Then we are
compelled to go in and force the
little nation to reform and pay its
debts.
It was that sort OF thing that
caused us to drive Castro out of
Venezuela and keep him out II
has led us into Hayti and Santo Do
mingo and gradually compelled us
10 take supervision over Central
American states. The European
nations have been pressing us for
years to do something about Mex
leo.
Thus the Monroe Doctrine has
been extended in a way its enunci-
ator could never have expected. We
have entered on these commitments
with the utmost reluctance. We
have exerted the least degree Of
power commensurate with the task
we have had to perform. We have
helI cd rather than exploited the
people and given them really great
er liberty than they had enjoyed
under their old corrupt chiefs. But
throughout the Latin countries
these truths are seldom told. while
the fact of occupation and interfer-
ence with internal affairs OF Latin
peoples is emphasized.
King Alfonso Able Statesman.
When 10 this feeling was added
the fear that the Anglo Saxon peo-
pies will get together and rule all
the others by the weight of their
military and financial power. the
/ opportunity was presented 70 Latin
nship to form a new and
powerful bination. Alliances
are always built on fear.
King Alfonso was the shrewd
| statesman who seized the oppor-
tunity. The world has been disin-
| clined 10 take seriously this descen-
dant Of a line of kings who have
/ been ndted more for prOfligacy and
| corruption than for qualities Of
| leadership. But before he is
/ through he is likely TO write his
name large In history.
! In the war balancing himself on
the family differences natural be-
| tween an English queen and an
Austrian oueen-mother; on the TO-
litical differences within his own
/ peoples due 10 the extreme pressure
: from both great alliances; on the
/ religious differences due TO the fact
! that foes Of the Catholic church
were fighting Catholic Austria-he
kept his country not only out OF en-