Evening star., 1923-09-10

Secretary of State Charles E.
Hughes declaration of just what this
country believes the Monroe doctrine
really means is accepted generally as
having been timely. Following, as it
did, on the complete recognition of
the robregon government in, Mexico,
it is characterized as bid to the
, Latin American republics to feel that
the United States has no desire to be
looked on as dictator but really
wishes honestly to cooperate with tbs
neighbors to the south.
South American statesmen would
gain in peace of mind IL they would
study this plain restatement of the
Monroe doctrine" the Utica Observer
Dispatch believes. "and that they will
do SO is quite certain. for no inter
national subject more deeply inter
ests them" Because Latin Ameri-
can susceptibilities In regard to the
Monroe doctrine were one of the main
reasons for the failure of the recent
Pan-American conference at San
tiago." the New York Post feels the
address was timely, because, "in prac-
tfee the Monroe doctrine has not
worked for the limitation of Latin
American liberties and has certainly
operated for their protection. The
one of meeting the facts of Latin
American psychology. and psychology
Is not negligible factor in interna-
tional relations" This is also the
view of the Springfield Republican,
which, in addition, suggests tour gov
ernments Panama canal policy. its
treaty relations with Cuba, its various
interventions in Central America
Mexico, Haiti and San Domingo rest
on special interests. which would have
aSgl l=Nfe erl - -
contiguity or nearness If the Monroe
doctrine had never been invented.
While this may be admitted without
hesitation, the fact cannot be ignored
that Latin America cannot be ,ex-
pected, to draw nice distinctions be-
tween what is Monroeism and what is
not. What chiefly concerns Latin
America is what we do rather than
what we say"
The address brings home to the
country at large, as the Philadelphia
| Bulletin sees it, "the strongly rooted
mistrust,. II not suspicion, in Latin
America of the purpose and motives
of the Unbted States policy affecting
the other nations on this, continent
Mr.. Hughes has made candid answer
to understandable, IL unwarranted.
criticism. and candid consideration in
Latin American countries of his re-
ply ought to clear the air consider
ably" TO which the Boston Globe
adds "the trouble. however, the
source from which most of the suspi-
cion about us in South America has
flowed Of recent years has not been,
directly, the Monroe doctrine but
matters above and beyond 1t. The
best pledge of our Intentions, and the
surest method Of proving our SINGER
ity TO our Latin American neighbors,
will be the speed with which we
withdraw our forces of occupation
from such Of those states as we are at
present occupying" The Milwaukee
much more behind the address than
has been made public and IL argues
s.the aIlusion of Secretary Hughes"
especially In Cuba. els too pointed to
be regarded merely as q general phil
osophical reflection" The Brooklyn
Eagle also feels there 10 some things
to be explained, insisting that in
firmations of the Monroe doctrine
that has been effected In recent years,
and in warning South America that
our rights and policies will be ap-
rlsed beyond that doctrine as each ad-.
rninistration may see At In any par
ticuiar circumstance Mr.. Hughes has
taken course that can have no other
even more uneasy than 1t has been
during the past decade"
+**
A directly opposite view is that
which is held by the Boston Tran
script. 1t feeling ''Mr. Hughes ad-