Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-05-03
|LATIN.AMERICAN POLICY
CHANGING UNDER HOOVER
StimsOn's Memorandum on Attitude I'm
Nicaragua Regarded as
Turning Point.

mas Oeen praCtlCeQ. OrlgIktALly LIE
Monroe Doctrine was not intended to
Latin American countries. It was meant
to keep the European powers out OF the
American continent and to afford pro-
lection to the young unorgani1ed Latin
American republics against the ambis
tons of those powers.
Later on. however. as the doctrine
barred the meddling of European coun-
tries with the domestic affairs OF the
still unsettled Latin American nations,
1t was thought that 1t gave the United
States certain obligations to protect the
lives and property Of European citizens
living in one of them when endangered
by internal disorders If the United
States, by means of the Monroe Doc
trine. forbade the interference Of tbs
European powers. she should afford pro-
lection to the Europeans living in Latin
America. This theory developed fast,
and gradually the Monroe Doctrine was
converted from merely protective pol
icy into something entirely different,
under which the United States was un-
derstood to be justified in protecting
and obliged to protect the lives and
property of foreigners In o Latin Amer
lean republic.
Then came the interpretatton-or
rather neutrality-suspicious. the doc
Roosevelt corollary," which specifically
stated that the Monroe Doctrine I'M
posed upon the United States the duty
to exercise an international pouc@
force" in the Caribbean region. Since
then the terms Monroe Doctrine" and
policy Of the big stick" have been as
ISOLATED In the minds of most Latin
Americans. The misunderstanding Of
the Monroe principles by both Ameri-
aVa% a. A. ys1n SxN-
creased, and the Monroe Doctrine be-
came for the former the Justification
to covering all 1nterventions In the
Caribbean zone and for the latter O
menace Of foreign interference and even
political control.
Entirely misconstrued, the Monroe
Doctrine had thus been, and still is, the
greatest obstacle in the way Of q better
inter- American understanding. Logi-
be converted into reality in our days,
the next step Is to take that obstacle
out of the way. Either abolition or
modification Of the Monroe Doctrine,
under which Intervention Is enormously
practiced. appears necessary. This
would be the only logical corollsry Of
the Hoover-Stimson policy, which Is
already doing more for Uncle Sans
prestige In the rest OF the continent
and renewed pledges Of friendship.
The New Monroe Doctrine.
If the United States is to give up Its
self-appointed role Of police of the
Caribbean, who is to take over that
role? It Is undeniable that some sort
of a protection should be given to for
eigners, and even neutral natives, living
in a Central American country when
civil war and anarchy are reigning In
the country-that Is, when the legal
government has lost control Of the stu.
alton and its international obligations
are endangered. Mind, this Is distinct
from outside interference with domestic
affairs, but rather guaranty for the
protection Of international rights and
interests which the law Of nations nm
poses upon all civilized states. Who Is
going to provide this protection In a
region where crises occur as often as In
Central America?
The answer, already advanced BY
some Latin American statesmen, Is that
all Of the American republics, acting
in concert, should perform the protec-
tive function which the United States
hitherto has seized for itself. The po-
lice power on behalf of foreigners which
the United States has until now exer.
cised alone should be internationali1ed
and practiced on behalf Of humanitarian
ideals rather than on that Of private
interests. II the United States would
invite the cooperation Of all the Latin
American states when an emergency
arises and discuss with them the &C.
ton to be taken by common accord. the
whole problem would be different. Even
If she offered her military forces as the
agent Of this cooperative action and
these were accepted, the physical re
suits would be about the same, but the
psychological atmosphere would be en-
tirely different.
The out-of-fashion and distorted
Monroe Doctrine should be discarded
and a Pan-American doctrine Of joint
responsibility substituted therefor. ANY
judging or policing to be done in the
Caribbean Is the proper task OF Pan
American organization. United States
troops may be used, but only with the
consent Of the other nations Of the
Western Hemisphere. Preferably, COM
bined group of army and navy units Of
three or four different American coun-
tries should be employed. %.
It would not be a difncult task TO
convert the unpopular Monroe Doctrine
into q continental doctrine Of mutual
obligations, Endorsed by all the govern
ments on this side Of the Atlantic.
Latin Americans in general have always
been opposed to the Monroe Doctrine Is
1t stands today, and on the other hand
the United States has come to consider
the protection of her nationals abroad
one of the traditional corner stones" Of =
her foreign policy. .
The only solution, then, Is the adop-
ton Of an a1l-American doctrine which
would satisfy at the same time the pride
Of the Latin Americans and the in
terests of the Saxon Americans, and
also serve to protect international obi
cations and the cause Of humanity that
only peace, mutual confidence and CO.
operation can afford.
The Occasion.
On July next Government oficials
of the United States and diplomatic
representatives of foreign countries will g
pay respect to the memory Of James
Monroe On that date, the centenary
of the death Of the distinguished Presi-
dent, elaborate ceremonies and ofnciA1
acts will be held at the University Of
Virginia. The occasion seems eSpe-.
cially appropriate for the Government
of the United States to make q final
ent status of the Monroe Doctrine, so .
capriciously misinterpreted and so little
understood.
What homage could be greater to the
memory Of James Monroe than formal =
declaration from the President Of the
United States restating the significance
and scope of the Monroe Doctrine In its
original form, and thus removing for
ever misunderstanding, suspicious and
resentments which have grown up IN
der It?
A complete abandonment Of the Mo1-
roe Doctrine. as the Latin Americans
advocate, would be almost impossible.
The doctrine has become by custom and
tradition an integral part Of the foreign
policy of the United States. Even more,
It has become a catch word' in Amer
.lnia .A.n