New-York tribune., 1921-03-18
Will
Hold Fast to
Monroe Idea
Firm Stand Against Any
League Mediation on
This Continent Said to
Figure in His Policy
By Carter Field

WASHINGTON, March 17.-The Mon
roe Doctrine Is going to be observed by
this government regardless of the ex-
listing League of Nations. Further,
nothing will be agreed on with regard
to the proposed association of nations
which will weaken the influence of the
United States in the Western Hemi-
sphere in the slightest extent.
This, it was learned on high author
.tv to-day, will be made clear to the
representatives of European powers
whose pilgrimages to Washington are
about to begin.
1t is known that nothing which has
developed since election has given
President Harding such grave concern
IS the reported possibility of the
League of Nations intervening in the
Panama-Costa Rica controversy. It was
the fear of such complication, it is
known, which resulted in such speedy
action by this government in directing
those two little countries to cease fight
ing and compose their difficulties.
President Firm in Position
President Harding is determined
about the continuance of the Monroe
Doctrine. Even if his discussions with
Rene Viviani and with the representa-
tives of other European powers in the
next few months should fall to bring
forth fruit, and his plan for an associ-
alton Of nations along American lines
should not materiaiize, in which event
some diplomats here think the present
League of Nations would go on at
tempting to function without American
participation, Mr.. Harding has not the
! slightest intention of surrenderlng the
old policy of preventing European ma
tions from interfering with affairs in
| the Western Hemisphere.
The Administration, it is declared,
| showed its attitude Enthusiastically when
the Cabinet discussed the Panama
Costa Rica incident. The President
was warmly supported in his belief
that under no circumstances should the
League of Nations Council or Assembly
I be permitted to take a hand in settling
| this controversy, or, by the same
token, any other controversy involving
| territory in North, South or Central
! America.
| While the situation might easily
have developed into serious mat
ter, and while future incidents of
the same nature may easily, because of
| the greater power Of the countries
which might be involved, be more
serious than this, it is not thought that
the existing league could ever bring
about a condition as serious as some
incidents of the past-notably the case
of Venezuela in her troubles at one
time with Germany and at another
with Great Britain.
New Complication Presented
But another complication exists with
regard to such situations as the
Panama Costa Rica incident, which has
never been present before and which
is regarded with grave concern by high
Administration officials. That is, that
virtually ali of the Latin American
countries belong to the League of Ma
tions. Therefore, under the league
covenant they are entitled to take their
troubles to the league for adjudication.
| This brings up the real reason for
the sudden, and to many of his friends
surprising decision of President Har-
ding to demand ratification of the
! Colombian treaty under which this
country would smooth over the old
wounds by paying her $25,00o,00o.
The President is desperately anxious
to do something to allay the distrust,
hostility and fear of the United States
which he has been told exist in many
If the Central and South American
countries So long as the present feel
| ing against the United States exists he
believes, not only is the path of com
merce made more difficult for American
manufacturers and interests of all sorts,
| but the danger of really serious situ
alton involving the right of the League
of Nations to ignore the Monroe Doc
trine is always present.
Awkward Situation Possible
"For example," Senator pointed out
/ to-day, Suppose that two of the big
| countries of South America, such as
/ Brazil, Chile or Arge ntine-l mention
| three so as to avoid the possibility of
/ sny one thinking | mean a real quar-
rtl--should be about to go to war, and
suppose they both decided TO refer the
question to the League of Nations. The
United States would find itself in po-
sition where it either had to surrender
the essence. of the Monroe Doctrine or
else combat successfully the desires not
enly of the League of Nations mem
bers but Of these two important South
American countries. With the present
feeling against this country in Latin
America-due largely to some of the
remarkable performances OF the last
administration is entirely possible
| that the united sentiment of all Latin
America would be against our interfer
ence. 1t would be decidedly awkward
I situation"
Against this. of course, those oppos-
ing the treaty say, in the language Of
the Lodge report of two years ago, that
swe cannot afford to buy friendship"
or to yield to "blackmail.'
| However, this is the real explanation
Of Mr.. Harding's anxiety about the Coz
lombian treaty, although whether he
gets it or whether he does not viii.
raake no difference in his determine
ton to preserve the Monroe Doctrine
/ at any cost.