Evening star., 1936-06-14
STUNNING INTERVENTION
NOT NEW POLICY FOR u. S.
Action in Nicaraguan Case Is Merely in
Accord With Roosevelt Pro.
gram Since 1888.

/ nave elapsed since tnOSe statements
were made. further proofs have been
given by the present administration
to convince even the most skeptical Of
its reluctance to use the armed forces
of the United States in the domestic
affairs OF Latin American countries.
It has signed and ratified the Monte
video convention on the rights and
duties of states specifically barring
Intervention; it has put an end to the
military Intervention in Haiti; it has
resisted powerful influences In this
country which demanded an inter-
vention in Mexico's religio-educational
crisis; it has given up, in the new
treaty with Panama, the right to
intervene there for the restoration Of
internal order (so-called Panamanian
Platt amendmenD, and 1t has, also
consistently restated and divulged.
whenever the occasion presented itself,
its determination to stick to the new
policy. No matter what the future
may have in store for inter- American
relations, it is plain that today, at
least, armed intervention of the United
States In Latin America must be con-
sidered out of the question.
Intervention Not Discussed.
In view of all these facts, 1t seemed
perfectly obvious. when a coup d'etat
was reported in Nicaragua a few days
ago, that the Washington Government
would adhere to its by now well estab-
lished course. AS matter OF fact,
no one even discussed the likelihood
of United States Intervention, and the
State Departments latest communique
would not have been made at all had
1t not been for the unprecedented
representations made by two South
American foreign offices-somewhat
rashly, as they found out belatedly-
against the possibility Of such an in
tervention.
In denying the false report that
Nicaragua had requested the inter
vention of the United States, on which
were based those representations, Sec
retary Hull minced no words. He
forcefully reiterated the firm inten-
ton OF the Government of the United
States not to intervene in the domes-
tic concerns of any American repub-
lie, and added that the relations be-
tween the United States and the
republic Of Nicaragua are identical
with those between the United States
and every other American republic.
But, he insisted, no suggestion had
been received. from any source that
the Government of the United States
intervene In Nicaragua, and to the
press correspondents he expressed his
regret that the protesting govern
ments had not ascertained the facts
before protesting.
Intervention Not Asked.
On his part, the Nicaraguan charge
d'affaires in Washington, DR.. Henri
de Bayle, corroborated Secretary Hulls
announcement, denying energetically
the suggestion that his government
might have asked foreign interven-
ton, and expressing surprise at the
attitude of the two Southern chan
celleries which, he thought, should
have investigated the facts before pro-
ceeding to make representations based
on rumors utterly lacking in truth"
The emphasis and thinly-veiled in
dignation which are apparent in both
these statements constitute the best
commentary on the extent Of the
change in inter-American relations
which the past few years have wit
messed. It Is not so long ago since
United States Marines were chasing
Sandino down the mountains Of
Nueva Segovia with the support Of
the Moncada government Of Mica
ragua. Today. the United States and
Nicaragua not only deny reports OF
intervention, but they resent them;
they can Justly resent them.
Z lCopyrisht 1850