Evening star., 1933-08-27

be isolated 1t would be tndefenSible, 2
break with all American tradition. It
could not be isolated. 1t was a single
step in large purpose and the world
is better for the fulhllment of that
purpose.
But when once the canal was in
operation the problem of the relations
of the United States was instantly ano
inevitably differentiated from that OF
American relations with the rest OF
Latin America. The canal became not
only one Of the worlds great waterways
one of the worlds most important trade
routes: it became also an essential
part of our national defense. Our naval
strategy had to be built around the
canal as link between our Western
and Eastern coasts. Henceforth one
fleet was sufficient for the defense of
both coasts, granted always that COM
munication through the canal remained
free.
To assure this freedom of transit,
peace in the surrounding regions was
necessary We became more interested
because We could not help 1t, in the
political stability of Central America.
This had nothing whatever to do with
the Monroe Doctrine. 1t flowed from
our obligations to keep open the new
trade route-this for all the world
from our obligations to ourselves to
maintain intact and undisturbed ou
means Of rapid naval communication
between East and West coasts.
The United States, therefore. began
to take a greater interest in political
conditions in the Caribbean countries
than would have been necessary If the
canal had not existed. This interest
manifested itself not so much in direct
interference in the political affairs OF
these countries as in exerting quietly
all the influence possible to build up
their stability. Although not a party
to the treaty Of 1923, by which the va
rious Central American republics agreed
not to recognize governments brought
into being through revolution, the
American Government was influential In
organizing the movement. It invited
these governments to send representa-
tives to meet In Washington, and itself
informally agreed not to grant recog-
milton to new governments unrecognized
by the Central American governments
This was a departure from prece-
dent. It had been the American tradi-
tion to recognize any government which
proved itself capable of maintaining
order internally and was ready to full
fill its international obligations. This
precedent had, indeed. been violently
broken by President Wilson when he
refused to recognize and finally over
threw the Huerta regime in Mexico. The
tacit acceptance by the American Gov
ernment of the Central American treaty
did not include interference in the in
ternal affairs of these countries, but
rather an agreement not to interfere
and by its withholding of recognition
to strengthen the endeavors of this
group Of nations to work out their owl
destinies in peace.
Would Prevent Progress.
Such an agreement among nations
if it applied to all the world, would
tend to freeze political conditions. te
prevent progress. But conditions ir
Central America were peculiar. Revo-
luton was almost the normal method
of changing the government. It die
not tend to bring representative gov
ernment, it did not indicate the popu-
lar will, it was ruinously expensive, both
in the actual military burden and ir
the destruction Of property, native anc
foreign. The treaty, therefore, was
designed to meet special conditions. II
has not totally prevented revolution any
IuIc LlLdI IIlc IcCcilI pIOilOullScilCl'
of the governments of the world moi
to recognize the fruits of aggression
will totally prevent aggressive wars
but 1t has cut revolution to the min.
imum, has permitted the Central Amer
ican nations to develop their institu-
tions and to balance their budgets.
This progress the American Govern.
ment has assisted also, notably In Mica.
ragua. by supplying advisers, by super.
vising elections, by lending marine.
temporarily to keep order in the coun.
try and to train native troops to takt
over the work. This sending Of ma.
rines has been the most criticized
phase of American policy toward Latir
America. Few would claim that it ha.
invariably been justified, but none WHIT
really know the facts would deny tha
in the large view it has been very use.
full to the countries where marines havt
been stationed. Because the marine
have been used for different purposes
some less clearly justifiable than 9th
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