Evening star., 1923-12-02
THOS. II. MARSHALL.
Former Vice President OF the United
States.

rOFmef vice Pre- sioent OF the United
States.
Commemoration Of the centenary OF
the Monroe doctrine brings to mind
the advantages which have come to
the United States through its con-
sistent maintenance. 1t has enabled
our nation to do as 1t pleases, while
forbidding European nations to do
things they might wish to do. No
country shall interfere with the re-
publics of the western continent, vet
the United States. in the event it
should seek to vindicate it's national
honor or should desire additional ter
ritory, is not deferred from doing So.
Hands off for everybody else; hands
on for us"-a critic has enunciated.
This may be a bit too cryptic, but the
fact remains that to citizens of the
United States the doctrine Is entirely
satisfactory.
1t has SO happened that the for
tunes of life have brought me into
intimate contact with not a few Latin
Americans. They are wise in diplo-
macy and possess the good sense not
TO complain about anything which
they have no hope of changing.
never failed, however, to detect a
scious lifting of the eyebrows when
ever the Monroe doctrine was men,
toned in the presence Of Latin
Americans. My mind reverts to the
story OF group of drummers await
To pass the time they talked of many
things and finally Of their wives.
One boasted that his wife was the
most beautiful woman in his town.
This brought from another the state
ment that his wife was not extra
ordinarily beautiful. but that she was
by all odds the smartest woman he
knew.
A third desired 1T understood chat
his wife was an unusually fine mu-
sleian. The fourth was quite sure
that his wife was the model mother
The fifth member of the group kept
silent until pressed for an opinion
about his wife. Then he pictured her
as the smartest. handsomest woman
In the state. a model wife and moth
er and great musician. But" he
added, she doesn't suit me-"
1 am convinced that the Latin
American, pleased as he Is with the
application of the Monroe doctrine to
European nations, would like to have
change in II, not In Its definition
nor in its purpose, but change that
would give him voice in saying to
Europe, Hands OFF,"
To nations as to individuals there
comes a time when even the most
beneficent guardianship seems irk-
some. The feeling arises that growth
into manhood, though not justifying
any change in investment, does justi-
fy release from guardianship and
the establishment of a joint trustee
ship. This attitude of mind is fairly
determinable, II seems to me- from
two things; one. the definition of the
effect of Article XXI by both Great
Britain and France when that article
was added to the covenant of the
league of nations; and two, the celer-
ity with which the Latin American
republics became members of the
league Of nations. They are no more
desirouS than are we to have any in
reference on the part of Europe with
the republics of the new world, but,
on the other hand. would like to have
some guarantee by the United States
that such things as the war with
Mexico and the recognition Of the Re-
public of Panama will not be repeated
They feel, no doubt, that we are justi-
fled in announcing as the fixed policy