Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-12-18
BY BEN McKELWAY.

~ ISPATCHES from Nicaragua in the last
4 year have added significant meaning
y to the term intervention" At one
- time these dispatches described the
landing of 5000 United States Marines While
IA ships Of war rode watchfuly at anchor in
Ncaraguan waters. At another time they pic
tured the thrilling and timely rescue of
handful of Marines by their comrades in air
planes, who swooped low over the heads OF
besieging forces scattering them with machine
gun bullets and bombs and inflicting casualties
estimated as high 800 dead At another
time they told how two Marines died fighting
surrounded and cornered in cave by forces
that far outnumbered them.
Some of the fighting in Nicaragua has borne
all the earmarks of war. But it is not war.
War must be declared by Congress- and Con-
Gress has had nothing to say about the dis
patch of Marines and warships to Nicaragua,
What might be elsewhere is Intervention
in Nicaragua.
1t is not difficult to understand the great
public interest, therefore, which has developed
over the question of intervention a policy.
In this country Intervention has already been
listed as the subject for some 200 intercoegi-
ate debates this year, with forecasts that the
number will be increased to 700. Throughout
Latin America Intervention by the United
States in the Caribbean, a talking point for
the last 20 years, has become a primary sub
jeCt for discussions. For two decades inter
vention a national policy has received in
creasing attention of international jurists.
And it seems definitely settled that efforts will
be made at the Sixth International Conference
Of American States at Havana next month to
bring the subject up there.
The mere fact that there have been propos-
ais 20 inject such a subject, as full as it is of
political dynamite, into the constructive and
non-political topics which it is planned to dis
at Havana has been interpreted to mean
that before the delegates leave Cuba some
hair will have been pulled some eyes black
ened and some very disagreeable things said
both pro and con. But such interpretations
are based more on the hope that there will
be coorful discord than upon a study of the
facts. There is not much likelihood that the
policy of the United States in the Caribbean
will be hung up a target either to be rid
died by caustic criticism plastered with
Sugary eulogieS.
In the first place although the Inter- tional
Commission of Jurists, which met in 10 de
JaneirO last Spring, has passed to Havana
several proposals, such as those emanatng from
Argentina, Santo Domingo Mexico and Para
quay to embody principle of international
law the declaration that "a state may not inter
vene in the internal affairs the external
affairs of another state" the proposals thus
passed on do not automatically become placed
on the agenda of the conference. AS a matter
of fact the Commission of Jurists exceeded it's
authority when it passed on any suggestions
for the Havana conference. The jurists were
charged with the reconstruction, to meet Amer
lean conditions, of private and public inter.
national law. That they left their work in.
complete and 'passed the buck" to Havana
does not admit the proposals to discussion
there Not being officially on the agenda in.
tervention may never be allowed to show its
head at the conference.
Another point is that Intervention as it
would be discussed at Havana would not apply
TO the broad question of the right of state
to intervene in another states affairs but
would put up for debate the right or wrong
of certain aspects Of the foreign policy of the
United States. The foreign policy of the
United States has nothing in common with the
proceedings Of the Havana conference
Ard third point is that intervention is not