Evening star., 1923-12-01

Adams who subdued. in cabinet
/ councils, the belligerency of the notes
Is in dispute.
Ax X X
George Canning. British minister Of
foreign affairs. was greatly displeased
by the audacity of the Monroe doctrine,
In declaring that the American conti-
| nents, by the free and independent con-
dition which they have assumed and
maintain, are henceforth not to be con-
sidered as subjects for future coloniza-
ton by any European powers"
Three years later Canning recognized
the doctrine as secretary OF foreign af-
Spain 1t should not be with Spain with
the (WesO Indies. I called the new
world into existence to redress the old"
| rather vain boast, three years after
the Monroe doctrine had been enunciat-
ed against his wrath. From that boast,
| 1t is sometimes assumed that 1t was due
to Canning that the United States had
declared against European encroach-
ments.
The Monroe doctrine has been the
! basis Of several presidential defiances
OF European empire -grabber nations.
The first important instance was the
Maximilian usurpation of Mexico, in
1861, under the support o. an alliance
OF England, Spain and France, 10 collect
debts President Juarez of Mexico
made terms with Ensland and Spain,
and they withdrew, but Emperor Napo-
leon iii Of France persisted, and landed
an army in support Of Maximilian. We
We're too engrossed with our civil war
to interfere at once, but In 1866 an army
OF 100000 was sent to the Mexican bor-
der. and France was notified to vacate
the country. She vacated. Maximilen
was shot by order OF JuareZ.
In 1865 the United States warned
spain and prevented an expedition
to reconquer Santo Domingo.
/, In 1870 President Grant extended
the original Monroe doctrine (Which
had simply warned against further
colonization by any European power)
by warning against any transfer of
any American territory from one
European power to another.
In 1895 President Cleveland in a
vigorous message to Congress threat
ened war against Great Britain be-
cause Of her encroachments on Vene-
zuelan territory, with her refusal to
arbftrate boundary disputes. Great
Britain arbitrated. In that message
Cleveland struck 4 keynote COM
mended to pacilstS: There is no
calamity which great nation can in
"
a supine submission to injustice and
the consequent loss Of national self
respect and honor. beneath which are
shielded and defended a nations
safety and greatness"
In 1902 Germany threatened
blockade of Venezuela to COLLECT
debt and refused Presidenf Roose-
velts request that she give assurance
that any occupation Of territory
would be temporary. Roosevelt sent
Admiral Dewey to Porto Rico to COM
mand the fleet and gave Germany.
! first. ten days. then reduced the time
to forty-eight hours. to recede. She
agreed In thirty-six hours Of the
the claim to arbitra tion.
Tho last exercise OF the Monroe
doctrine was when a Japanese cor
pore ton acquired a hsrbor in Mag
resolution of the Senate warned
Japan that such d colony would not
be tolerated.
The first draft Of the Versailles
treaty and league Of nations agree
rnent contained no reservation Of the
Monroe doctrine. President Wilson
received bitter criticism for the omis-
son and revised draft contained
! full reservation of the doctrine
President Wilson made no statement
in connection with 1t. but a British
delegate explained that what the
/ reservation meant was tAat the Mon
roe doctrine would now apply to the
whole world, and that in case Of fu-
ture dispute the council of the league
Of nations would interpret 1t.
/ This explanation by the British
would have put US at the mercy of
the league-that the league should
| interpret the doctrine. though the
league was dominated by Europe.
against which the policy was aimed
This. Interpretation was repudia ted
Nv a Senate resolution, which de-
cIarcd that said doctrine is to be
interpreted by the United States
alone and that nothing In the
league OF nations should ever affect 1t.
Copyright. 1923. by Paul V. ColIins)