Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-02-07

situation existing from that normally
presented under international law and
practice. As I have already pointed
out, those countries geographically have
for a century been the focus OF the
greatest difficulties and the most fire.
quent disturbances in their earnest
course toward competent maturity in
the discharge of their international
obligations. Until some two decades
ago war within and without was their
almost yearly portion. No administra-
from revolutionary attack tnstigated
either by factions of its own citizens or
by the Vaccinations of another one OF
the five republics. Free elections, the
corner stone upon which our own
democracy rests, had been practically
unknown during the entire period. In
1907 a period of strife, involving four
of the five republics, had lasted almost
without interruption for several years.
In that year, on the joint suggestion
and mediation of the governments OF
the United States and Mexico, the five
republics met for the purpose of con-
sidering methods intended to mitigate
and, If possible terminate the tntoler-
able situation
Sixteen years later, in 1923, the same
five republics, evidently satisfied with
the principle they had thus adopted
and desiring to reinforce it and pre-
vent any future evasions of that princi-
pie, met again, re-enacted the same
covenant and further promised each
other that even after a revolutionary
government had been constitutionally
reorganized by the representatives OF the
people they would not recognize 1t II
its president should have been a leader
in the preceding revolution or related
to such a leader by blood or marriage,
or if he should have been cabinet
officer or held some high military COM
mand during the accomplishment OF
the revolution. Some four months
thereafter, our own Government. on the
invitation Of these republics, who had
conducted their meeting in Washing
ton, announced, through Secretary
Hughes, that the United States would
in its future dealings with those repub-
lies follow out the same principle which
they had thus established in their
treaty. Since that time we have con-
sistently adhered to this policy in
respect to those five republics.
Fail to Obtain Recognition.
Since the adoption by Secretary
Hughes, in 1923, of the policy of recog-
milton agreed upon by the five republics
in their convention, not one single revo-
lutionary government has been able TO
maintain itself in those flve republlcS.
I will now pass to the subject Of the
the policy of this Government in respect
to the export of arms and munitions TO
countries which are engaged in civil
strife. Twice during the present admin
istration we have had to make tmpor-
tant decisions and take important action
in respect to this subject. The first OF
these occasions was in March, 1929,
when a military instruction broke out
in the Republic of Mexico.
The second occasion was in october,
1880, when armed inSurrection had
broken out against the government OF
Brazil. In the same way in which we
had acted toward Mexico we permitted
that government to purchase arms both
from our Government and from our
nationals in this country, and when the
Ambassador of Brazil brought to our
attention the fact that arms were being
purchased in this country for export to
the rebel forces fighting against the
recognized government we placed an
embargo against the expectation of such
arms. Two days later the government
Of Brazil suddenly fell, the immediate
cause being the revolt of it's own garri-
son in Rio de Janeiro.
Confuse Legal Situation.
Our action in regard to Brazil has
been criticized by gentlemen who have
confused the legal situation which ex-
listed in Brazil with an entirely different
situation. We have been criticized for
taking sides in that civil strife" as If
we had been under the duty to maintain
neutrality between the Brazilian gov
eminent and the rebels who we're
seeking to overthrow 1t.
Under the law of nations the duty
of neutrality does not arise until the
insurgents have assumed the status of
a belligerent power, between whom and
the mother country other governments
must maintain impartiality.
Pleasant Saturday afternoon excur-
sions to graveyards and cemeteries pro-
- IL L. IL L.