Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1925-04-01

of equal or less 'thoughtfulness or per-
ception.
The assertion of DIR. Molina that the
masses of South America are skep-
teal of pan-Americanism was based
upon the claim that this ideal is the
cloak under which this Nation seeks
the commercial dominance of Latin
America. The asseveration that the
Monroe doctrine implies the hegemony
Of the United States among all Ameri-
can nations was specific. but did not
elucidate his idea that this doctrine
is today dead letter.
Both pan-Americanism and the Mon
roe doctrine-and it should be said
that the two are most intimately re-
lated-are susceptible of such misin-
depreciation as that Of which, from
the viewpoint of this Nation, DIR. Mo
lima was guilty. And because of the
obvious dangers to the good will of the
American continents incident to such
misinterpretation 1t is well that the
matter should be frankly discussed
From the viewpoint of the United
States the fallacy in DIR. Molina's at
titude lies not in his attributing an
element of commercial acumen to our
Nation in its cultivation Of that vague
ideal which goes by the name of PAN
Americanism, but in the assumption
that It is commercial advantage which
is our fundamental aim in fostering
that ideal. And from that same view
point his error concerning the Mon
roe doctrine lies not in his belief that
this instrument implies an assertion
of political leadership on our part in
the Americas, but in the implication
that this leadership is sought funda-
mentally for selfish ends.
The aim and ideal of the United
States in its cultivation OF the theory
of pan-Americanism and it's far from
moribund insistence upon the famous
doctrine enunciated by President Mon
roe are too obvious to warrant Of mis-
understanding by any who will closely
analyze the situation. The United
States. IN its own interests and in
those Of the republics to the South, is
vitality interested in the matter, first
of maintaining peace in the Americas,
and second-of insuring the closest of
relationships among the nations which,
in friendship and understanding.
should together travel the road to
mutual prosperity and cuntentment.
To claim that our motives in the
matter were utterly 'unselfish would be
absurd-but less absurd than to claim
that they were utterly selfish.
The United States has much at
stake in the matter of the continued
political integrity and mutual good
will Of the several American republics.
II has, with its own interests a, we'll
as those of Others at heart, no inten-
ton of complacently losing that stake
Recognizing the value of a mutually
beneficent trade relationship to inter-
national good will, ii has, without dis
stimulation, cultivated such relation
ship with its neighbors. Aware of the
dangers to itself as to all America of
any extrahemispheric influence in its
destinies it enunciated in 1923 the
position upon which today it still IN.
sists. With every means it has been
able legitimately to employ il has
sought, and to date the quest has been
markedly successful, the preservation
of its own and all Americas peace
and friendship and prosperity. And it
will continue that quest.
To claim, however, that our motives
have been solely to our own interests
is to forget the past and neglect the
future. At the time of President Mon
roe's announcement to the world Rus
STA, Prussia, Austria and France were
casting greedy eyes upon South Amer
lean territory. Repeatedly since that
date the earnest attitude of the United
States has protected its brother repub-
lies upon the American continent from
European domination or fratricfda1
wars. And the rich and comparatively
defenseless states south of our borders
have as much to gain from our future
adherence to past policies as have we
ourselves.
To those policies we shall adhere
with the frank admission of our self
interest in the matter, yet in the sim
cere hope that the bulk of our neigh.
bors will recognize that it is not our
interests alone which we serve. For
it is only through that recognition
that the destinies Of the Americas. in
terwoven yet independent of each
other save in the matter of friendship
and good will, shall be achieved.