Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-04-17
MARINES RECALL
POLICY TO STAND
Pressure o.! Congress Only
viii Change U. S. Pro-
lection Measures.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.

Congress probably will have to take
full responsibility fer a change Of policy
with respect to the protection Of the
lives and property Of American citizens
In revolut.on-torn countries.
Announcement q couple or months
ago by Secretary Stimson that Marines
would be withdrawn from Nicaragua
was made as q result of pressure from
Congress here. Now, however, seven
Americans have been killed since the
policy was announced and plans for
withdrawal of all the Marines are con-
tinuing so that the American forces
are expected to be out of Nicaragua by
June. with the exception OF those who
are engaged in instructing the Mica
ragusn Maternal Guard as well as an
aviation section. Not more than 500
Marines out Of 5000 viii be left in
Nicaragua.
Dependence on Navy Aid.
The Navy win be depended upon to
carry refugees from Nicaragua in the
event Of further trouble. insurgents In
Nicaragua have become active and are
fighting the Nicaraguali National
Guard. The presence Of q naval force
at the important cities Is expected to
enable foreigners TO concentrate In the
event Of further outbreaks. The send
ing Of additional vessels to the east
coast Of Nicaragua Is part Of the pro-
gram OF protection which will be car
ried on, Notwithstanding the with
drawal Of the Marines. In other words,
land operations will be left to the Mica
raguan government itself and its newly
organized National Guard, while Amer
lean naval vessels viii harb0r about
the coast to be ready for emergencies
Notwithstanding the signs of trouble
and disorder, the American Govern
ment's policy of leaving internal condi-
tons TO be worked out by the Nacara-
guam authorities Is In conformity with
the policies Of previous administrations.
An occasional intervention, as in Mex
leo or in Haiti or in Santo Domingo
with an occupation of territory, was al
ways followed by q withdrawal Of forces
when order was restored. The Nacara-
guam situation Is far from peaceful and
American Marines have been on Nicara-
guam territory almost continuously for
a dozen years. The insistsnce of Con-
gTess that the Marines be withdrawn
has been heated, but the consequences
are dimcult to foresee because 1t is
apparent that the Nicaraguan govern
ment Is not stronE enough to deal with
the bandit and insurgent groups.
Point Of View Changed.
There is different point of view
nowadays here about protecting Amer
lean citizens abroad than there used
to be. The Wilson administration was
continuously harassed by the Repub-
lican press when lives were being lost
in Mexico. but nowadays both the DEM
ocratic and Republican newspapers are
silent about protective measures when
the news reports tell Of the death not
only Of seven Americans but nationals
OF other countries. The viewpoint of
the Senate has been tending more and
more toward an abandonment of Amer
lean interests in revolutionary areas.
The policy Is dictated by disappoint-
ment over the number Of American
Marines that have been slain while
trying to preserve order. The belief
prevails that internal conditions win
not mend until the Nicaraguan govern
ment itself realizes its responsibilities
To that end the withdrawal of the
Marines and the strengthening of the
National Guard is thought to be the
only policy which will bring q quick
realization Of the necessity OF Mica
raguan obligations to foreigners.
fCopyright, 1917