Evening star., 1932-10-16
LATIN AMERICAN POLICY
OF DEMOCRATS WEIGHED
Their Leaders Urged, if Elected, to
Carry Out Program of Hoover
and StimsOn.

| lations And the Democratic nominee
has added nothing on the subject DUR
ing his campaign tours. The reason
for this is simple.
Naturally enough. and humanity
enough, the stress of the campaign Ji
the party which is trying to get in power
is always placed on the failure and
shortcomings of the current administra-
ton. This time has been no exception
to the rule. But the Latin American
policy of the Republican party has been
so thoroughly changed by the present
Government, and the changes have
been so beneficial and so lauded abroad
that very little material for criticism
seems to have been left.
Four years ago, when Alfred E.
Smith was campaigning for the presi-
dency, the Democratic candidate had
bitter phrases for the Latin American
policies OF the Republican administra-
ton. He said: To no declaration of
our platform do I more heartily COM
init myself than the one for the aboli-
ton OF the practice of the President of
entering into agreemer s for the settle
ment OF internal disputes in Latin
American countries DersOral1y
declare what the platform declares: In
terference in the purely internal af-
1alrS OF Latin American countries must
cease. Inc Monroe Doctrine must
be maintained, but not as pretext for
meddllng with the purely local concerns
OF countries which even though thew
are small are sovereign and entitled to
demand and receive respect for their
sovereignty"
Later on the Democratic standard
bearer condemned sharply the attitude
adopted by President Coolidge when he
announced the doctrine that the person
and property of a citizen are part of
the national domain, even when abroad.
i do not think the American people
would approve he said. "a doctrine
which would give to Germany. or
France, or England or any other coun-
try, the right to regard a citizen Of
that country or the property of a citi-
zen OF that country situated within the
borders of the United States a part Of
the national domain of the foreign
country. Our unWarranted interyen-
ton in internal affairs in Latin Amer
lea and this specious reason for it con-
stitute the basis upon which other coun-
tries may seek to. justify imperialistic
policies which threaten world peace"
Charges Now BaseIess.
But that was four years ago In the
past four years President Hoover and
CCN4tNoIN hlHIISOIIr a. pOIIlltO Oul III
the previous article. have so completely
abandoned that aggressive policy of the
Government toward Latin America that
the charges would be baseless today.
They have done, as far as Latin Amer
ican policies are concerned precisely
what Mr.. Smith was asking for.
They nave not only adopted non
interference with internal affairs, but
they have practiced it. They have re-
fused to protect with armed forces the
property of United States citizens living
abroad They have repudiated the i'm
pe-ialistic corollaries of the Monroe
Doctrine They have discontinued the
paternalistic attitude of previous ad-
ministrations.
/ In fact, they have discontinued all
the practices and principles upon which
Republican statesmen-TheodCreR Roo7e-
/ welt. Taft Coolidge. Knox. kellogg
had built the Latin American policy of
the big stick" And here it would not
be improper TO include the name of the
great Democratic President. Woodrow
Wilson. who, despite his good intentions.
contributed largely to encourage that
big brother" attitude with his nom
recognition policy and his interven-
tions in Mexico and Central America.
In his speech accepting the Demo-
cratic presidential nomination, Mr..
Smith declared. four years ago: L
especially stress the necessity for the res
toration of cordial relations with Latin
America and l take my text from a
great Republican Secretary of State.
Elihu Root who said: We consider that
the independence and equal rights OF
the smallest and weakest member Of the
family of nations deserve as much re-
spect as those of the great empires. We
,f-t,+ r,rttr -cr
that We do not freely concede to each
one of the American republics
Root Doctrine Adopted.
This policy, set forth by a famous
Republican leader, Endorsed by the
Democratic candidate of 1928, is pre-
cisely the one which. with very few ex-
ceptions. the administration of Presi-
dent Hoover and Secretary Stimson has
followed. It should not be overlooked in
this connection that Secretary Stimson
was associated for many years with
Elihu Root in the beginning of his
career.
( Until recently. the Root doctrine had
only been the pet theory of distinguished
professors and authorities on inter-
national law. like James Brown Scott.
/ but when Secretary Stimson was in
augurated in office, it became very
nearly the standard of conduct of the
State Department toward the southern
republics This fact. proven by the
record of the present administration.
has wrested from the Democrats one
weapon of attack in the field of foreign
( affairs
! The best that the Democratic leaders
/ can do today to win the sympathies
of Latin Americans. is to pledge them
selves to carry on. if elected, the new
Latin American policy of President
Hoover and Secretary Stimson. The i'm
provement in Pan American under
standing brought about by the appear
ance of this new policy has been so
marked that they will probably not
! hesitate to carrv it on. if victory is on
their side next November s.
.