Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-01-11
BACKGROUND OF EVENTS
BY PAUL Y. COLLINS.

What is on trial in the Mexican
and Nicaraguan crisis?
President Coolidge, yesterday, DEM
onstrated that the strongest military
strategy is sometimes that when
takes the offensive, when the
"enemv" was counting only upon the
defensive. In the face OF the senate ;
nroposed quiz today of the Secretary
Of state. President Coolidge sur
prised the Senate with an 8,OOO-word
special message outlining the entire
history of our relations with Mica
rae11a. and he directly charged that
Mexico was supplying arms to SacaSa'
the unrecognized claimant 10 the
Nicaraguan presidency, although nc
country except Mexico and San sal.
vador has recognized Sacasa. All
other countries, as we'll as the United
States. recognize the constitutionallty
IF the election of Adolfo Diaz, Presl
dent.
But why is the United States in
tervening." according to Senator
Rorah. even If Diaz is lawfully elected
President? Are we our brother
keeper" o+o
gorically put in these words, Is the
kew to the would-be senatorial Cd
struction to the administration policy
in sending vessels of war and armed
troons to maintain the administration
of President DiaZ.
President Coolidge in substance
answers: eyes, under our Monroe
Doctrine and Polk doctrine, and
Roosevelt and Taft and Lodge doc
trfnes. we are responsible for main
tanning peace and order in Mica
"a qua. not only because we hold
by purchase the right to build the
Nicaragua interoceanic canal. but De-
cause we warn off all other NATIONS
from meddling with American inde-
nendence and peace. We stand upon
the Monroe Doctrine modernized. 1t
ia therefore the modern Monroe Doc
trine that is on trial before the ad-
ministration, by and with the advice
and consent Of the Senate
Yesterday, at the conclusion of n
speech by Senator Bingham of Con
necticut, upholding the enforcement
of the Monroe Doctrine, Senator Borah
sIvlv cited a book bearing the title
"The Monroe Doctrine, an obsolete
Shibboleth," which he said was writ
ten by Prof. Hiram Bingham. and he
asked the Senator if that were not
good authority. Senator Hiram Blns-
ham responded Immediately with a
franl, ayowal of authorship of the
hook hut he added that the Senator
from Idaho should in all frankness
and fairness include another essay,
which he had written after ms eX-
neriences in the World War had
taught him that his first analysis OF
the Monroe Doctrine had been based
unon false premises. Hence when he
had seen the incorrectness OF MS nrst
conclusions, owing to the incorrect
nremises, he had revised his argu-
,nants The "Shibboleth" book was
written in 1918: the revised argument
in 1919. Even the doughty Senator
from the mountains was not quick In
nroof that a professor of Latin Ameri-
can history of Yale University Should
not add to his knowledge in six years
when he was getting broader data
through the actualities of European
war.
In his later analysis, Senator Bing-
ham explains that his previous arsu-
ment had been based upon the original
Monroe Doctrine in relation to the
innerialistic European aggressions OF
1923. which he supposed had become
"obsolete" in our generation, until
the World War had demonstrated
that imperialistic ambition still eX-
isted-dormant but not dead-which
might vet threaten the peace or Amerl-
can republics. AS lieutenant colonel
of aviation, Mr.. Bingham had come
into close contact with European con-
ditions. so that he now conceived the
great Importance Of defending this
hemisphere from the Eastern Henri
sphere with it's imperialistic propen-
stiles.
1t takes a progressive nina 10 re-
verse itself with new knowledge, ana
this instance is so rare an example
IF openmindedness upon the Monroe
Doctrine that it stands in contrast
with the average. Doubtless there
are many who sincerely take the same
1929 view of the Monroe Doctrine,
forgetting that while it still bears the
original name, it is q live thing which,
therefore, continues to grow.
In the language of Senator Bling
ham, in his 1919 analysis:
when the American people say
they believe in the Monroe Doctrine
and that it has a future. they do not
mean to subscribe to the balanced
policy laid down by President Monroe,
but rather to the spirit which prompt
ed, John Quincy Adams to reject the
proposals of Canning and to enunciate
the doctrine that the United States
proposes to look out for the Western
Hemisphere, and does not need or care
for European interference in so do
ing"
Canning's proposal was that the
United States and Great Britain
should unite in declaring a joint pol
icy against further European inter-