Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-01-16

The landing Of American marines in
| Nicaragua to protect American lives
and property in that country is backed
by many presidents since the days OF
President Grover Cleveland. Indeed.
the American marines have been
landed I'm Central American or West
Indian republics during the admins
tration Of every President OF the
! United States since, and INCLUDING,
| that of President Cleveland. During
the administration of President Hard
ing, while there were no new land
ings OF marines, the marine guard in
{ some of these countries. was con.
tinued.
The call for American marines to
! safeguard American lives and prop
erty, or nationals of other nations.
has arisen invariably during reyolu-
| tionary movements or insurrections
| against the governments of these
countries. In the case, of Santo
| Domingo, for example, there was in
! volved, also, question of aiding that
nation to pay it's debts to foreign
| creditors, rather than to have Euro
pean debtor nations intervene there.
! President Roosevelt declared that sit
| is very iladyisable to permit any for
eign power to take possession, even
| temporarily, of the customs houses OF
| an American republic in order to en-
force the payment of it's obligations.
for such temporary occupation might
turn into permanent occupation.
| The application of the Monroe Doc
trine was clearly indicated by the
President then. On the same subject
| he said in another connection:
Danger of Foreign Intervention.
There was imminent danger Of for
! eign Intervention. The previous rulers
, of Santo Domingo had reckiessly in
CURED debts, and owing to her inter
| nal disorders she had ceased to be able
to provide means of paying the debts.
| The patience of her foreign creditors
/ had become exhausted, and at least
| two foreign nations were on the point
of Intervention, and were only pre-
vented from intervening by the I'M
| that it would itself strive to help
| Santo Domingo in her hour of need.
! In the case of one of these nations,
only the actual opening OF negotia-
tons to this end by our Government
prevented the seizure of territory in
Santo Domingo by a European power. "
The landing of American marines
, in Nicaragua, a few years ago, would
have failed to cause the commotion
that has followed that action today.
Critics of the United States in many
foreign countries. European and Latin
American, have fastened upon the ac-
| ton to develop their criticism of this
country.
The list of the landing of Marines
in Central American and West Indian
countries Is long one. The countries
in which Marines have landed to pro-
tect Americans and their interests in.
Cube Cuba, Haiti, Honduras, Mica
ragua, Panama and Santo Domingo.
They have materially assisted in the
restoration of order and safeguarding
of life and property not only of Amer
lean citizens but also of citizens Of
foreign countries.
President Coolidge's policy in Mic
aragua. defended by the President in
special message to Congress last
Monday, and later by Secretary of
State Kellogg before the Senate for
eign relations committee, resulting in
the landing Of the Marines, has been
subject of attack by Senator Borah,
chairman of the foreign relations com.
mittee. and by several Democratic
members of Congress, The opponents
of the Presidents policy have taken
the ground that the Monroe doctrine
is not applicable to the Nicaraguan
oALhtALAOA LOudSt UcCA u6t ITO
government Is seeking territory in
Nicaragua. But 1t has been pointed
out by administration supporters that
the governments of Great Britain
Italy and Belgium, through their Dip
lomatic officers in the Central Amer.
lean republic, have asked the United
States for protection for their ma.
tionals.
Duty TO Protect Nationals.
If the United States, under the Mon.
roe doctrine, refuses to allow these
foreign nations to land armed forces
on soil Of the Central American re-
publics, then. the administration sup
porters say, it is obvious that 1t Is the
duty OF the United States to take
steps to protect their nationals in
Nicaragua. and the Marines have been
landed to give this protection as well
as to care for Americans and their
property in that country.
Inc Marines have been used for the
purpose OF protecting Americans in
foreign countries as a practical prop.
osition. That they have been effective
has been testified many times by
Americans abroad
Landing Of Marines in Central
America since 1895 follow:
1SSb-Sixty officers. sailors and Ma
rlnes from United States ship Allan.
ta' under Lieut.. Comdr. Taussig, land.
ed at Boca del Toro, Panama. March
8, to protect the United States consu.
late ana Government property.
1SOl-Sailors and Marines were land
ed at Panama from United States
ship Iowa to protect American inter-
ests: also landed at Colon from the
United States ship Illinois to protect
property OF the United States.
19O2--A battalion of Marines was
landed at Colon September 20. These
men were stationed at Panama and
Colon and along the line Of the Pan
anna railroad until November Is, pro.
tecting American property and the
transit of the isthmus.
1903-Marine detachment landed at
Santo Domingo to protect American
lives and property. In the latter part
Of this year a brigade Of Marines was
dispatched to Panama. This brigade
returned to the United States in
1904, but left q battalion for perrna-
nent station In the Canal Zone. A
force OF this strength was maintained
here until 1914.
1904 brigade OF Marines was sent
to Cuba and landed there. forming a
part Of the army Of Cuban pacifca-
ton, the cause Of this occupation be-
ing the instruction in Cuba Part of
this brigade returned on October 80,
but 1000 remained until December,
1909.
Land at Cuba in 1906.
1906-September 10, 100 sailors and
Marines landed. at Havana, Cuba.
from the United States ship Denver to
protect American interests.
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