The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1922-08-07
AN .ALL-Ae1ER1CAS TRIBUNAL.

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AN ALL-AN1ERICAN TRIBUNAL
HERE is considerable speculation in diploma
i tic circles to the attitude which the United
States will year with respect to the
Brum proposal for an American league of ma
tons" The subject will be taken up for con
sideration at the Fifth 4Pan-Amercan Conference
to be held in Santiago, Chile in 1923
The sponsor of the idea, Baltasar Brum, is
president of Uruguay and was formerly Uruguayan
Minister to the United States. He is a statesman
of brilliant intellect and probably the foremost
advocate IN Latin-America of the negemony of the
United States in the Western Hemisphere. In
deed, Brun is record as saying: That a re
public fighting for her sovereign rights is not a
belligerent and has the right of asylum and pro-
lection from all republics. and that when the
United States is forced into to protect her
rights she is protecting the rights of all republics,
and all republics become parties to the conflict.
While the Brum doctrine has never received inter
national sanction it involves considerable senti-
ment. If the author should see fit to contine its
application to this hemisphere whenevr any part
of it is threatened by European or Oriental en-
croachment, it would be in harmony with the prin-
ciples of the Monroe Doctrine
OF that doctrine Emilio Mitre, son of General
Mitre. Of Argentinas three great statesmen
and also one OF the founding fathers OF that ma
ton, said, the occasion of Elihu Roots visit to
Argentina in 1906: The American President in
formulating this doctrine decreed peace between
Europe and America which seemed destined. the
former. to assault always for conquest the latter
to fight always to defend IT'S frontiers In short
the Monroe Doctrine has been the veto war be-
tween Europe and America. In its shadow these
youthful nations have grown until today they are
sufficiently strong to proclaim the same doctrine
as the emblem of their shield 1850! America for
Americans is formula. understand it, which
meant the final conservation of the Independence
of the American nations.
While there would be considerable opposition in
this country to an american league of nations
which contemplated pooling of armed force and
joint responsibilities for international action
the part of the republics concerned it
seems prob BILE that all-Amer ican tribunal for
the purpose of settling affairs affecting those re-
publics in amicable manner would find favor
able response from this nation. That such tri-
bunal could achieve splendid results has been
ference in Washington respecting the Tacna-
to the Latin-Americans as The. Problem of the
Pacific" You indicated" said Secretary
Hughes to the conferees over whom he presided,
that difference in Latin America is incapable
of solution Whatever the differences that re-
main between the Latin-American Republics, OF
between any of them and the United States.
it seems probable that All-America1 tribunal
could settle them amicably: In establishing this
fair assumption the Harding administration
has done than has been done during the en-
tire life of the league of nations in its mishand=
ling of European problems.
The suggested tribunal would accomplish much
for United States in Strengthening the diploma
tic and commercial relations of this nation with
the republics to the South Further Developments
along that lire will be awaited with interest.