Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-01-05
BACKGROUND OF EVENTS
BY PAUL Y. COLLINS,

When Is a battle not a symptom Of
war? Is 1t when half dozen Ameri-
can soldiers are killed and 80 others
seriously wounded? When no war has
been declared by Congress. the only
constitutional authority to declare war?
The Government decides to add q
thousand reinforcements to the front,
yet we are not at war with Nicaragua
These may appear as impertinen.
queries in the face OF the Nicaragua
hostilities following the recent success
full" efforts OF former Secretary OF War
StmSon as special envoy OF our Gov
eminent to placatc the combatants In
that disturbed nation. Yet only critics
who have not learned the characters
tics OF Central Americans and become
familiar with the incidents OF a CEN
fury OF efforts OF the United States to
maintain peace and liberty there will
Jump TO conclusions that we have de-
parted from our traditional policies and
entered upon a course OF meddling with
the affairs OF independent. sovereign
nations--that we have undertaken
dollar diplomacy" rather than adher-
ing TO lofty disinterested purposes OF
aid TO less fortunate republics contig-
uous TO our borders.
y y a
II is fundamental To an understand
ing OF Latin American politics 10 rec
ogniZe that in all countries Of Central
and South America, wheKe Latins dom
mate. the political parties are not ex-
pressive Of differences in political prin-
eiples. but are entirely personal In their
organizations and support. The tradi-
tional means of showing satisfac ton
with elections Is TO start revolutions, Sc
curing support by enticements Of loot,
Such revolutions are not ordinarily
justification of outside Intervention by
foreign nations. IL is the right OF mi
nor!ties TO revolt II they SO desire. and
IL Is not the right OF a foreign govern
ment To stop such revolutions-~-neser-
theless. foreign governments may pro-
tect the safety Of the lives and prop
erty Of their own nationals In case local
hostilities are prolonged unreasonably
or carried on ruthlessly.
In 1907 President Roosevelt induced
| all fiye Central American republics To
| come in conference To Washington, and
here enter into a mutual agreement not
Ia recognize any president OF any Gem
trail American country who had reach
ed power through armed force, ALTO
| the agreement Was to maintain the en-
isting boundaries Of all such countries
against aggression either Of neighbors
or other foreign powers That had no
connection with our Monroe Doctrine,
vet. In principle, IL bfoadened and To-
Called That doctrine by applying Its
essential principle Of integrity of exist
| Ing governments and boundaries In
| Central America The United States
Government. desiring to let Central
| America realize It's own Independence.
! did not sign that agreement. but adopt
| I'd It's principles rs our own policy. nrv-
| erlhelcRs.
We have interviewed In local oondi-
| tlons IN flge outstanding cases with
| out in Tie siiHhteht running contrary to
| that policy,
We interviewed Ia stop the Spanish
| oppression In Cubn not To avenge the
sinking ~ the Maine IN Havana Har~
| bur, but IN establish peace IN the neigh
boring island. Whose long and cruel war
| was 50 disturbing tn our own security
| aud peace Then. after getting rid Of
| Spain, we stipulated that Cuba should
| bind herself la our diutation In certain
matters such rs maintaining peace and
sanitation. and raffainna from ever
| PERMITTING any either country Ia gain u
fo1thnld upon her territory. and never
| to contract foreign debt which could
not be met, as 10 interest and sinking
| fund, by her normal revenues
| Az stated by Charles Cheney Hyde
professor ~ international law and for
| mar s6llfituf NJ Our htate Department
ny The foregoing provisions, Cuba IL
believed ~ have accorded the atatus oi
a dependency under the protection vi
| Tie United States
Under that provision the United
| States interviewed twice IN Cuba, with n
yew a. maintaining government
adequate fnf the purposes desofibau
| therein.
|
In 1903 ths United States undertoat
10 guarantee and maintain tha Republic
1T Panama, which had granted ~ th'
United states, by treaty ~ pelpat.llty
not only the Canal Eana, but the rieh
and responsibility ~ palinA the entire
domain Of Panama, In case lis owl
government failed " maintain ofasl