Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-04-26

JhAAEN6H CTlIlclSm the state
M Department may draw in
wv this country for its new
Nicaraguan policy, this will
certainly have far greater
results in gaining the good will and
sympatbies of the Latin Americans than
any other single act of the Washington
Government since President Hoover
himself crossed the Equator, three years
ago, seeking inter American friend
ships
For a number or years the Latin
Americans have been maintaining that
no foreign power has the right to pro-
tcct with armed forces The property or
the lives of its citizens living in a Latin
republic. when endangered By internal
disorders. This has been the chief
argument of opposition to United
States Intervention in Nicaragua. Haiti
Santo Domingo. ETC.. whenever the
'bluejackets' were sent there In ac-
cordance with what was supposed to lie
principle OF American foreign policy
All that often repeated talk of
yankee Imperialism, dollar diplo-
macy" etc. which has lately so greatly
paired pan American relations, has
been built upon the charge that the
United States. in landing Marines for
the protection of American lives and
property in disturbed Latin American
countries, was violating the sovereignty
OF these independent states and inter-
fering with their own domestic affairs
The lives and property of American
citizens residing in a foreign country,
according to the Latin theory. become
subject to the laws and conditions of
that particular country the moment
they set foot oil its territory. The citi-
zen OF the United States who emigrateS
to Latin American nation and en-
cages there in business. the I.atinS con-
tend, is well aware of the difficulties he
may have to go through, and in under
taking the risk he is automatically ac-
cepting full responsibility for it and re-
nouncing any outside protection or help
when in conflict with the national laws.
Anything else, according to the Latin
authorities, would amount to placing the
foreign interests in a privileged position
III respect TO the local ones, which have
to submit entirely to the laws of the
country and are subject to the same
dangers and possible damages as the
former in times of civil war.
Moreover, the Latin Americans argue
that to test the justice of these princi-
pies 1t Is only necessary to stop and
think for moment how absurd 1t
would be to imagine small Latin
American country of the Caribbean
IohdhlS diHlcu troops OH the SIlOI - VI
Uncle Sam for the protection of that
country's citizens and property in the
United States.
ON THE RIGHT TRACK.
Secretary StimSon'S announcement
that the United States will not protect
with armed force the property of
American citizens menaced by Mica
raguan bandits is a recognition OF the
Latin American theory of non-inter-
ference with their domestic affairs.
The Secretary has gone ever further
by stating that the Government Of the
United States cannot undertake gen.
eral protection of Americans through
out that country with American
forces" and by recommending "all
Americans who do not feel secure under
the protection afforded them by the
Nicaraguan government, through the
Nicaraguan National Guard, to with
draw from the country"
The official comnunique from the
State Department added that those
who remain do so at their own risk