Evening star., 1933-01-22
BY GASTON NERvAL.


TN authorizing the Government
to formally join the League Of Ma
tions, the Argentine Chamber of
i Deputies has unmistakably stated
the position Of the largest Spanish
| American republic toward the Monroe
Doctrine.
In communicating the adhesion OF
Argentina to the Leagues secretariat,
| the chambers resolution reads: The
executive power will point out that the
Argentine Republic regards the Monroe
Doctrine, mentioned in Article XXI OF
the League pact, as unilateral politl-
| cal declaration which IN its time per-
| formed a notable service to the cause
OF American EMANCIPATION. out noloS
that 1t does not constitute q regional
agreement. as stated in the aforemen-
toned article"
| Ever since corollaries were added to
the Monroe Doctrine and the original
announcement of President Monroe
suffered peculiar transformations, that
it may Justify the Intervention Of the
| United States in the Caribbean coun-
| tries. Latin Americans have held a
grudge against the doctrine as prac-
ticed and understood at present.
They have felt suspicion and resent
ment toward this modern Monroe Doc
trine, so different in letter. and spirit,
from the original declaration Of 1928,
that James Monroe. should he come to
life. would be unable to recognize TO-
day.
Brought Strong Protest.
Thus, when the founders Of the
League of Nations, IN order to
| strengthen President Wilson's position
at home. upheld the Monroe Doctrine
If,@rr rr-k- -frtN
could not be affected by the Leagues
covenant, q wave Of Latin American
protest ensued.
Article XXI of the Leagues cove
nant states: Nothing in this covenant
Of international agreements, such as
treaties of arbitration or regional I'M
derstandings like the Monroe Doctrine.
for securing the maintenance CT peace"
Honduras, Costa Rica, Haiti and El
Salvador, at one time or another. asked
the Leagues Council to clarity the
meaning and scope Of that nterpreta-
ton.
As early as April %, 1919, at the
plenary session Of the Peace Confer
ence the delegate Of Honduras declared
that the Monroe Doctrine had never
been inscribed in an international
document" or expressly accepted by
the nations of the Old and the New
World"
Subsequently, the other countries
mentioned made similar representations
against the Leagues reference to the
Monroe Doctrine as a regional under
standing which would imply the
acquiescence of all the Latin American
governments.
In this and, generally speaking. in
all the phases OF Latin American op-
position to the Monroe Doctrine, Ar
gentine writer's and statesmen have
distinguished themselves. Because of
her own material supremacy in Span
ish-America, Argentina has always felt
tempted to undertake the lead in a
Latin American move condemning all
traces of foreign interference. And she
has often, without reluctance, sue
cumbed to the temptation.
Objected to Clause.
On February 20. 1928, Senor Cantillo
Argentine delegate on the Committee
on Arbitration and Security, protested
formally against the inclusion of the
Monroe Doctrine in the covenant. Saio
he:
1T Is my duty to make objection, In
the name Of historical accuracy, to the
wording of Article XXI. The Monroe
Doctrine mentioned in the article is a
political declaration of the United
States. It would be untrue, it is in fact
untrue, to give as Article XXI gives
even by way Of an example, the name OF
regional agreement to unilateral
political declaration which has never
as far as I am aware been explicitly
approved by other American States"
AS for the Argentine press, it has
always been very outspoken in its con-
demnation of Article XXI. La Prenza
one of the two great Buenos
Aires dailies. stated long ago:
There is no Interpretation that can
convert a unilateral declaration into a
regional understanding, vague expires
sion with which the League of Nations
qualified the dangerous uncertainties
of the Monroe Doctrine"
And La Nacion, the other Ar
gentine newspaper with worldwide
reputation. added: THE juridica
validity of the Monroe Doctrine has MOI
been-as it could not be-consecrateo
by the League. The nations which en-
ter the Geneva institution will pre-
serve their perfect right to deny to thi.
doctrine any scope beyond that of 9
mere political declaration"
In instructing the Buenos Aires gov
eminent to make specific reservations
in regard to Article XXI. the Argentine
Chamber of Deputies, then. has only
, expressed a view long prevailing ir
Argentine, and it may be said, in Latir
Amer lean political quarters.
Besides, even If the Argentine pro.
! test goes further than the objections