Evening star., 1923-12-01
IN TODAY'S SPOTLIGHT
BY PAUL Y. COLLINS

The centennial anniversary Of the
Monroe doctrine will be celebrated
tomorrow. The doctrine, which was
formulated and announced in Presi-
dent Monroe's message to Congress
December 2. 1923, was in line with
what John Quincy Adams, his Secre-
tary Of State, had previously express
ed and urged, not only in his diplo-
matte relations. but in the councils of
the cabinet.
Secretary Adams, one of the most
democratic Of our early statesmen,
was the most outstanding Imperial
ist' OF his time and looked forward to
day when his country would cover
the entire continent Of North Amer
lea NO pent-up Utica" was sds
Dream. His doctrine differed from
Monroe's In that 1t advocated an
nexation by the United States: Mon
roe only forbade farther annexation
or colonization In the western hemi-
sphere by any European nation, on
the theory that such aggression would
endanger the United States.
At the close of our war of 1912 Tin
1870 Mr.. Adams proposed annexing
canada as 4 matter of common
sense II was on his initiative that
the treaty with Spain was made in
1919. and ratified in 1921, annexfn &
Florida.
i X i y
For several years the countries of
South and Central America had been
struggling for independence from
European powers. As, one by one,
they had achieved their independence
the new and feeble republics had re-
.ceived recognition by the United
States
In ls2o the minister of Portugal
proposed that the United States and
Portugal should unite as the two
great powers of the western hemi-
sphere" in forming "a grand American
system" Secretary of State John
Quincy ADAMS replied: "As to an
American system, we have 1t; we
constitute the whole Of It; there is
no community of interests or Of prin-
ciples between North and South Amer
lea"
This was a rejection of an EN-
tanslfng alliance" but he further
more opposed taking part in any for
elgn policies - and he conceived
South America as foreign" In con-
timing his own policy to North Amer
lea Secretary Adams failed to antici-
Pate the full breadth of the ultimate
nnliCV pracilant
defense of the entire western herni-
sphere against further European en-
croachments.
In 1923, prior to the announcement
OF the Monroe doctrine. Secretary
Adams wrote our minister at Madrid.
1t Is scarcely possible to resist the
conviction that the annexation Of
Cuba 10 our federal republic will be
indispensable TO the continuance and
The same year. he boldly told the
Russian minister that we should
contest the rights of Russia TO any
territorial establishment on this con-
tinent-referring to Alaska-and he
added, I'VE should assume distinctly
the principle that the American con-
tfnents are no longer subjects for any
European establishments" This was
the first hint of the principle, cover
ing both continents. Of what became
the Monroe doctrine.
!: II u (:
Within a few months after our bold
defiance of Europe, there was formed
the so-called holy alliance" in
which the Car of Russia, the EN-
peror Of Austria and the King OF
Prussia swore to stand by each other
"as brethren" "conformably to the
word of the Holy Scriptures" In the
United States and the new republics
Of South America, 1t was feared that
one OF the objects of this alliance
was to seize territory in America, as
we'll as In Europe. Thereupon, Sec
retary Adams prepared notes Of de-
fiance against any possible encroach-
ment OF the powers OF Europe upon
any American nation. Whether it
was President Monroe or Secretary