Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-12-08
Hoover DOCTRINE"
DEFINITELY STATED.
Diplomatic Controversy With
Russia Brings Proclamation
of Administrations Policy.
BY FREDERIC WILLIAM VILE.

Amid the hurly-burly of the opening
Of Congress. the Presidents message
and the national business survey con-
ference, Washington and the Nation
at large have not yet measured at its
full significance the true inwardnesS of
the late RuSso-American diplomatic
f1Sticuffs over China.
What energies from them is nothing
more or less than the proclamation of
"the Hoover Doctrine'-the doctrine
whereby the United States now COM
nitS itself to mobilize the public
opinion of the world" whenever and
wherever world peace is threatened.
Henry L. Stimson, Secretary of State,
speaking with the full authority of the
Hoover administration, has nailed to
the mast colors which-it can be stated
with complete conf1dence-will fly there,
and fly vigorously and promptly, as long
as Mr.. Hoover is President. The Hoover
Doctrine in conception is as definite
and integral a factor in American
foreign policy as the doctrine launched
and immortslized by President James
Monroe in another December LOG years
ago. The latter concerned only this
hemisphere. The Hoover Doctrine
comprehends the globe One thing, and
one thing only prospectively. will defect
the United States from maintenance
of the Hoover Doctrine. That is the
unlikely contingency that, for some
reason, this Government might some
day withdraw from the league of
peace" established by the Kellogg
BRAND pact.
Doctrine Definitely Stated.
Secretary Stimson's recent rejoinder
TO Soviet RuSSia's manifesto about
American intervention in the Man.
churian crisis brings the new peace
doctrine wildly to light. But the first
tnkling of it was given at the close of
Prime Minister MacdonaldS visit to
Washington in October. On october
10 the prime minister and President
Hoover issued a carefully prepared
"'joint statement" on the accomplish
ments of their meeting. One passage
bore the unmiStakable imprint of Mr..
Hoovers own hand. 1t reads: The
part of each of our governments in the
promotion of world peace will be differ
ent, as one will never consent to become
entangled in European diplomacy, and
the other is resolved to pursue policy
of active cooperation with its European
neighbors. But each OF our govern
ments will direct its thoughts and in
fluence towards securing and maintain
ing the peace of the world"
It Is possible for this writer to out
line and define precisely the part" the
United StateS-under the Hoover ad-
n1inistration, at least-intends to play
sin the promotion of world peace" In
the first place, it will be as far as pos
sible from the part" which Great
Britain, under the force sanctions" of
the League of Nations lis resolved to
pursue in active cooperation with Its
European neighbors."
President Hoover told Prime Minister
Macdonald, in effect II not in these
precise words, that the only sanctions
In which he believes are the sanctions
of public opinion. Hoover, moreover,
considers that such sanctions are all
potent in their power to restrain nations
from going to war.
Public Opinion Vital Factor.
He is confident that public opinion
Is Gas Secretary Stimson has just re-
minded RUSSIA "a live factor which
can be promptly modified" The
President holds further that this assess
ment Of the value and spontaneity of
public opinion is already so generally
recognized throughout the world that it
(ss is also pointed out in the State
Department communique on the Chi
nese situation) lit has become factor
of prime importance in the solution of
the problems and controversies which
may arise between nations"
The Hoover doctrine rests four
square on the Kellogg BRAND pact.
1t unreservedly looks upon the 54-power