Evening star., 1922-07-16
URGES AMERICAN
LEAGUE OF NATIONS
Uruguay Proposes Action on
Matter at Santiago
Conference.
MUTUAL DEFENSE SOUGHT
Plan Involves Unity Of Interna-
tional Affairs by Twenty One
Western Republics.
BY the Associated Press.


The government of Uruguay has
proposed as a principle to be adopted
by the nations attending the NTH
American conference in Santiago.
Chile. next March, that all countries
Of the American continent will con-
slider as an encroachment upon their
rights an encroachment upon the
rights of any of them inflicted by a
non-American power" and that such
encroachment would give rise to a
common and uniform attitude of all
nations of America" Uruguay also
has proposed that an American
league of nations be formed to bring
about the observance of the principle.
This policy, which would involve a
unity. In international affairs of the
twenty-one republics of the Amerf-
can continent, was first proposed and
initiated by Uruguay during the
world war and was intended to bring
about the entrance of all the Latin
American countries in the war as an
expression Of solidarity with the
United States. The "Brum doctrine"
as ii is called in South America, was
launched by President Bsltasar Brum
Of Uruguay, June II. 1917, when he
proclaimed the benevolent neutrality
toward the United States. and it con-
stituted the basis on which Uruguay
severed it's diplomatic relations with
Germany on October Z, 1917.
statemeat Of Doctrine.
President Brum then declared that
no American nation could be or
should be hostile or even neutral
when one Of them was in war against
a non-American power and that an
act of aggression committed against
one of them should be regarded as
committed against all. Several other
countries of Latin America adopted
thereafter that policy and followed
Uruguay in severing its diplomatic
relations with Germany as an act of
solidarity with the United States.
AS understood here, this principle
is only a part Of a broader plan to
be submitted by Uruguay to the San
tiago conference, it being icontem-
plated by the proposal that an Amer
lean league biased upon complete
equality of all countries associated"
be formed and that .'all controversies
of whatever nature and which for
whatever reason arise between the
American countries shal. be submit
ted to the arbitrable judgment of the
American league, when such dues-
tions cannot be settled directly or
by amicable- mediation"
Favors World League.
Although it is stated in the Uru-
guayan proposal that the proposed
American league would not prevent
the adherence of any nation Of the
American continent to the league Of
nations, 1t is understood that the
American league is intended to pro-
tect the Monroe doctrine and thus
clarity the reach OF the provision of
the league Of nations covenant
which treated Of that American doc
trine.
The American league also was sug-
Kested informally by President Hard
ing during his electoral campaign,
when, in his speech Of August Is.
1920. he declared that the interna-
tional policy OF the United States
should be directed toward solidarity
In international AFFAIRS with the
American republics rather than with
Europe. That plan was then dis
cussed with keen interest In Latin
America, and the Brum doctrine.
which already contemplated that
league, was much favored as the
proper means OF resolving the ,situa-
tion, created by the absention Of the
United States from the league Of
nations.
The Uruguayan proposal has been
referred to the members OF the PAN
American conference and n final re-
port will be made on It when the
governing board of the Pan-American
Union, which, II to approve, the pro-
gram. meets here In october.