Evening star., 1923-12-02
Monroe Doctrine Century Old Today

other light than as the manifesto
tion of an unfriendly disposition to-
ward the United States
No name was given to this state
ment by Monroe himself. In the
long debate of 1926 in the House OF
Representatives, on the Panama mis-
sion, II was praised by Webster.
Buchanan, McDuffie and others as
"Monroe's declaration" Il was re-
ferred to by President Polk as 'the
principles avowed by Mr.. Monroe"
When or by whom II was first called
the Monroe doctrins' is not disclosed.
Any impression that the impor-
tance of the message was not quick
ly appreciated is dispelled by exam
lining the newspapers of that time.
All the American papers stressed its
significance and gave it their APP
proval. It was enthusiastically well
coined in South America.
Some have credited the message 10
| Canning, notably Charles Sumner,
but it is plainly shown by a letter
| from Canning to Bagot. the British
| minister to Russia, not long ago I
| brought to light, that the message
| gave Canning no satisfaction.
| Some have given the entire credit
| to Adams. It is true that the Secre-
| tary of State urged that the United
| States should, Independently of Eng
land (which country had withdrawn
| from the alliance and protested its
| ruthlessly dominating proeedure).
announce it's opposition to any inter
! ference with the Latin American
states. On that question at the
| start there was a division of opinion
| in the cabinet. Writ doubted and
| hesitated, and Adams asked the
President to consider carefully the
Attorney Generals apprehension that
throwing down the gauntlet to the
alliance might precipitate war
which this country might have 10
| fight single-handed
| The conclusion of President Monroe
| was arrived at after protracted con-
| sultations with his cabinet and it
| was his own conclusion, reached with
| full knowledge of the entire situa-
| tion and upon q consideration of
| every fact and argument.
| The answer made by Representa-
tive Moore, after conferences with
1 historians, to those who decline to
| attribute anything of initiative and
| leadership to Monroe, Is that he alone
] was in authority and capable of final
| decision and action on a subject OF
supreme Importance which hung in
a trembling and perilous balance.
! and that his. alone, was the response
bility for boldly proclaiming, as the
| Chief Magistrate of the nation and
| leader of the people. a policy which
I ;v q
antagonism and might involve the
country in a war, or series OF
wars.
The meaning of the Monroe doc
trfne was recently set forth with
characteristic precision and clear
ness by Secretary Hughes. Properly
| understood" he said. at is opposed
% to any un-American action en-
croaching upon the political inde-
pendence Of American states under
any guise, and (2) to the acquisi-
tion in any manner of the control
of additional territory in this hemis-
phere by any un-American power"
BY the Monroe doctrine the United
States voluntarily fxes a rule of
conduct for itself. which affects all
other nations without regard to
/ whether they approve or disapprove
1t Is an affirmative declaration OF
continuing purpose, by the use of
) such force as may be essential, TO
prevent old world powers from aci
tion In this hemisphere which might
lessen and might finally even de-
stroy the territorial and political
safety OF the United States. It's
validity and strength spring from the
fact that IL represents an exercise of
the natural right of self-protection
and for that reason has the un-
divided support of all the people.
It links with the older Declaration
| in proclaiming a method by which
i independence Is to be guaranteed
and maintained.
This Monroe doctrine has never
been thrown into the form of
statute, though something OF that
sort was attempted. unsuccessfully.
as early as January. 1924, but no
statute is so authoritative and en-
during. It is not intercontinental
law, as Clay called 1t. but a unilat-
eral policy applicable to two con-
| tinents. 1t Is not international law.
since 1t does not depend upon the
consent OIL Aiiy hASiOh Oh the Ola
world, to all Of whom IL says, Thou
shalt not" or any Of the other ma
tions Of this hemisphere, and 1t is
not given the character of Inter
national law because of having been
expressly accepted by all of the
powers that are members of the
league of nations. 1t carries no
| thought OF overlordship and is de-
void of any ambition inconsistent
! with the rights and interests of other
American nations.