Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-02-22
In LATIN AMERICA
By CASTOR NERVAL.

sons address friendly move, one which
showed a great regard for the Sover-
eighty of the Latin American nations,
and far better understanding of their
political conditions.
The announcement made by Secretary
Stimson that the United States had
reverted to its traditional policy of
recognition Of de facto governments, as
opposed to the so-called Wilson theory
which more or less implied the State
Departments passing upon internal
problems of the Latin American
countries-has been met with particular
rejoicing in the editorial columns OF
Latin American newspapers.
Although this reversion to the JET
| fersonian policy was already known,
! for during the last few months it had
several times been put into practice,
4 the oficial statements Of Secretary
| Stimson to the effect that any govern
ment which is the expression of popular
will-even If born of revolution-and
which is able to assure internal order
| and protection TO foreign lives and
| property will be recognized by the
United States, was bound to evoke,
necessarily. enthusiastic applause in the
Americas of Latin origin.
The threat" of non-recognition Of
revolutionary governments advised by
|
much ill-feeling among the Latin
Americas. They contended that such
/ theory, denying them the right of
revolution, was tantamount to a denial
| of self-government. The more so, since
revolution is often the only means left
in Latin America to replace a dictatory
and personalistic rule.
NOT FOR 1881.
| The other part of Secretary Slim
sons address, that referring to the
/ Monroe Doctrine, has aroused some
criticism, although this is more the re-
suit of .misinterpretation of this doc
trine by the Latin Americans. Nearly
ever since it was promulgated the
Monroe Doctrine has been feared by
! the Spanish-speaking peoples OF this
hemisphere as a means devised by the
United States to extend its political
of a protection they have looked upon
it az a menace. Thus. since the very
beginning, there has been an underlying
lack of understanding of the Monroe
| Doctrine, to which certain attitudes
and gestures of American statesmen
it is only fair to admit this-have con-
tributed on several occasions After
all. the doctrine has been just as much
misunderstood and misinterpreted by
people and by Government officials in
! this country.
1t is because of this misconception Of
the Monroe Doctrine that the Latin
Americans do not miss an opportunity
| to oppose it and advocate its abandon
ment by the United States. sComment-
ing on Secretaru Stimson's references
to the Doctrine, they declared that,
even admitting the good it has accom-
plished for them, its usefulness has
ended, and that it is no longer appli-
cable to present-day relations between
the United States and the Latin
American republics.
The Monroe Doctrine, they contend,
was directed against the Holy Alliance,
as Secretary Stimson himself empha-
sized in the course of his speech. and
President Monroe and the United
States deserve all the more praise
they add, because it did not possess the
material power to enforce it when it
was announced. Today. however, all
the European courts against which the
Doctrine YVES directed have long since
ceased to exist, and that formula of
1923, so the LatinAmericans argue,
cannot be adjusted to fit into the life
of 1881.
WORDS AND FACTS.
Satisfactory as they were, the dec
|
not have been complete without def
mite action of the State Department in
accordance with and in support of
them. So, at least, the leading Latin
papers commended. stresSing once again
their preference for actual facts
And then came the announcement
from Secretary Stimsons Office that by
next June the withdrawal of United
States Marines will begin, and that by
the latter part of 1882, right after the
elections of that year, not single
"bluejacket" will remain on Nicaraguan
soil
Whatever else he may have failed to
achieve with his address on the Latin
American policies of the White House
Secretary Stimson certainly accom-
plished something with this announce
ment of the evacuation of Nicaragua
Editorial praise has come from every
corner of the continent, and Latin
American statesmen rejoice in acknoWl-
edging the sincerity of the Secretary
declarations. fulfilled by his action in
the State Department.
No matter how much of it is due to
misinterpretation, the presence OF
United States Marines in Nicaragua has
been for some time the chief argument
of critics of Uncle Sam on the other
|. side of the Rio Grande. The best diplo-
matte gestures, the most friendly atti-
tudes of this country toward its Latin
American neighbors have been ham,
pered by this unfortunate state of af-
fairs, unavoidable as it may have been
1t is hard to describe. in so limited
, space as this. the benefits which inter
American relations will derive from this
latest announcement of the State De-
partment calling the Marines back
home. The more so when such an an
: nouncement comes ON the heels of Sec
: rotary Stimson's friendly words express
: ing the good will of the United States
toward her Latin American sisters and
. calling for their hearty cooperation In
I the development of Pan-American ideals
Words alone. when they are sincere