The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1923-08-31
HOLDS MONROE
DOCTRINE NOT
BAR TO PEACE
Charles Hughes, Secretary of
State, Defines Purpose and
Scope to Lawyers
MAINTAINED BY u. S.
Relations with South Amer
lean Countries Also Are
Detailed by Secretary

Minneapolis, Mimi, Aug. 3l.-The
Monroe Doctrine was defined here
last night by Secretary Hughes as
embodying a policy vitality related to
national safety. inimical to no just
interest in LatinAmerica or else
where, and imposing no barrier to
wider international cooperation in
the promotion of peace and under
standing.
Speaking before the American Bar
association. the secretary declared
that while the doctrine in no way es-
tablished n "prOtectorate" over other
American republics, American rights
and obligations not specifically out
lined by Monroe in his famous mes
sage had sometimes made interven
ton in some Latin American states
an absolute necessity. He recalled
that the right to intervene in Cuba
is matter Of record in the treaty
of 1904, although he added that the
United States would rather. if pos
sible, continue in its present role of
friendly adviser"
been and as it is believed to remain"
said Mr.. Hughes. 81 desire to com
ment upon certain points. which, rs
! believe, deserve special emphasis
at this time.
Not Policy of Aggression.
"First The Mor~1c doctrine il
not policy of aggression; it is n
policy of self defense. 1t was as
serted ut time when the danger Of
foreign aggression in this hemi
sphere was very real, when the new
American states had not yet estab-
lished a firm basis OF Independent
national life, and we were menaced
by threats OF Old World powers di
rected against republican institu-
tions. But the achievements of the
century have not altered the scope
of the doctrine or changed it's basis.
1t still remains an assertion Of the
principle Of national security. As
such, it is obviously not exclusive.
Second. As the policy embodied
in the Monroe doctrine in distinc-
lively the policy Of the United
States, the government of the United
States reserves to itself its defini-
ton, Interpretation, and application.
This government has welcomed the
recognition by other governments OF
the fact and soundness Of this pol
icy and of the appropriateness of its
application from time TO time.
"But the United States has not
been disposed to enter into engage
ments which would have the effect
of submitting to any other power or
to any concert of powers the de-
termination either Of the occasions
upon which the principles of the
Monroe doctrine shall be invoked or
Of the measures that shall be taken
giving it effect. As President Will
son observed: The Monroe doctrine
was proclaimed by the United States
on her own authority. 1t always has
been maintained and always will be
maintained upon her own RESPONSE
bility.'
This implies neither suspicion nor
estrangement. 1t simply means
that the United States IS asserting a
separate national right of self-de-
tense, and that in the exercise of
this right it must have an unhamp-
cred discretion.
third. The policy Of the Monroe
doctrine does not infringe upon the
independence and sovereignty of
other American states. Misconcep-
ton upon this point is the only dis
turbing influence in our relations
with Latin American states. The de-
claration of our purpose to oppose
what is inimical to our safety does
not imply an attempt to establish a
protectorate any more than a similar
assertion by any one of the great
southern republics of opposition to
conduct on the part o. any of the
others endangering its security would
aim at the establishment of q pro-
tectorate.
Fourth. There are, indeed, mod
rem conditions and recent events
which can not fail to engage our at
tention. We have grown rich and
powerful, but we have not outgrown
the necessity, in justice to ourselves
,,,skL s.s.