Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-02-18
Stimson REEVES Discussion
OF Latin American Policies

Much attention is given to the ad.
dress by Secretary Stimson of the State
Department on the relations between
the United States and Latin American
countries He is held to be right in the
DO, ition that recognition of new or revo-
lutiorary governments should be granted
upon the de facto test as to whether a
government is in control of the adj
n1inistrative machinery, enjoys the
acquiescence of the people and is able
and willing to discharge its obliga-
tons. The record of the Government IN
these matters is scanned in the various
comments.
Declaring that the Secretary frankly
meets admitted criticism of State De-
partment policy as to recognition of
Latin American COUNTRIES" the Phila-
delphia Evening Bulletin states that
the charges are of inconsistency and
discrimination as to recognition, and in
the case of Brazil of reversal of policy
in first taking sides with the previous
administration, thereby placing an en-
barge on arms for the insurgents fight
ing it, and then Immediately afterWard
recognizing those insurgents as the de
facto government" The Bulletin be-
lieves that Mr.. Stimson has shown that
washington practice has always ex-
tended recognition to de facto gov
ernment. except in the case of the illog-
ical and ill-advised action of the Will
son administration toward the Huerta
regime in Mexico It points out that
lin the case of. Guatemala the State
Department followed a pledge given by
Secretary Hughes to the five Central
American states which had agreed by
treaty not to recognize any regime in
any of the five which had originated
by violence" The Bulletin concludes:
THE country at large is satisfied with
the HOover-Stimson policy. New proof
of its desire to respect the sovereignty
of the minor countries, even in the Car
ibbean region, is furnished by the reve-
lation of the department purpose to
withdraw all Marines from Nicaragua
after the election in that country next
year. Latin America knows there is
nothing III the DOGGY of Washington
imperialism. ="
\ X i x
Jefferson's principle as to de facto
governments is quoted by the Lexing-
ton Leader, with the assumption that
the Hoover administration has observed
that sound and just rule in its treat
ment of Mexico and of the Latin
American republics" with "the only
exception in the case of the five-power
Central American treaty" The Charles
ton Is. O. Evening Post comments: 1T
is not for one nation to say how another
shall govern itself, least Of all for self
governing Nation like the United States.
That is a safe rule of guidance and it
is well that it is reasserted IL the
Stinlson utterance, and all of the clut-
ter made by Roosevelt and Wilson and
not removed by the succeeding Republic
can administrations is thus swept away.
Tt is rather a curious thing that this
Jeffersonian doctrine should be put into
practice by Republican administra-
ton, but no matter for that 1t is good
to have it again."
Another important point in the adj
dress which is recognized by the Hart
ford Times is that sit gives a new pro-
nOuncement with reference to the Mon
roe Doctrine, asserting unequivocally
that the doctrine stands only for the
common protection of the Western
Hemisphere against European agrees
sion, and not at all as a warrant for
by the United States with
the affairs Of her sister countries in the
South" In the matter of export of
arms, the New York Herald Tribune
finds it is our policy mot only to apply
the embargo authorized by acts of
Congress and prescribed by treaty, but
to endeavor to establish as an accepted
rule of international law the princi-
pie that a country should not allow
its nationals to disturb international
order by selling war materials to insur-
dictionaries against friendly power"
The Herald Tribune emphasized the
desire not to permit this country to be
used as base from which revolution
in other countries can be stirred up
and supported" The Buffalo Evening
News agrees that 1.-The Secretary spoke
with especial force aRd in the light of
knowledge Nof. the good eff
fects of forbidding the eNportation of
arms to insurgents
X X
AIisun' Outstanding of the Stihshn adj !