The Indianapolis times., 1931-04-22
10 WI Rogers and the Ladies

VIII Rogers is going to get hooked for cabinet
post or something bigger if he doesn't stop showing
that he knows more about running the country than
the politicians. 1t took him just one week with an
airplane in the Caribbean to find out what our state
department. after twenty-five years. only is beginning
to discover.
Will divulged this secret Of foreign policy to the
ladieswe would not dare to say "old sisters" as he
dd-of the D. A. r. convention in washington.
Said he:
We've got our army and navy messing around in
everything; we mean well, but we just don't get away
with it. have been talking about it in all these coun-
tries and they think we ought to stay at home
We're in bad now in fifteen countries. have been
told that in confidence by their big men, and it is time
we quit and get back home"
To which we say, Amen
The only trouble with viii is that he doesn't go far
enough. Or perhaps we should say, the only trouble
is that he did not stay in Central America another
week Then doubtless he would have discovered the
constructive policy which should replace the American
intervention fasco.
After we take Wills good advice to quit and get
back home" what do do then2 For that does not
solve the problem.
There still will be Central American revolutions
There still will be periodic destruction of United
States property and killing Of our citizens.
There still will be demands Of European powers for
us to protect their nationals threat their inter
vention There still will be occasions when an outside
police power is required protect legitimate nterna-
tional rights.
And when those crises come, all the hard sense of
VIII Rogers and the good intentions of the White
House not going to keep several million excited
brethren and sisters of the patriotic organizations
from pushing us back into the big stick policy
Then we shall rush south again, with high hat in
one hand, gun in the other. batteship in the
background-and proceed to "clean 'em up" in the
name of God, country and bonds.
That is what always has happened before and will
again.
Unless
Unless recognize that the protection Of interna
tona rights there is not job but international
Job.
Unless we cruisers and marines as part of
an international police force
Unless we substitute for our Monroe doctrine of
Yankee paternalism new Pan-An1erican doctrine of
mutual equality and mutual responsibility of all the
American republics for protection of their joint in
terests and rights.
Unless we renounce our selfish diplomacy and die
tatorial power in favor of a n-American union,
which can and will act.
Peace is not preserved by good intentions.
Disputes are as inevitable in this hemisphere else
where. Military interventions and wars are not ended
by words International organization is necessary. In
ternational law is necessary International enforce
ment is necessary.
AS VIII says, we mean we'll But that has not kept
us from making mess of things and earning the
hatred Of our neghbors Nor will Will Rogers policy
of withdrawal mend things.
We must build where we have destroyed. We must
turn their hatred into good will We need them; they
need us We must live with them and work with
them as equals.
There is only one way. Call it an American League
Of Nations call it an effective Pan-American union
the name does not matter But that is the only way
out.