Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1936-12-10

our nelgnDOrS TO the south. Frank
ly, they do not like it.
Considering all of the factors in
volved in the Monroe doctrine, there
seems no conclusion ahead but
eventual abandonment of that pro-
nouncement. When / say that, I
do not mean that the principles of
the Monroe doctrine need be thrown
into the ocean. Yet, the name has
been the focal point around which
much antagonism has been built up
and the romantic Latin blood of
South America can hardly be ex-
pected ever again to subscribe to
the Monroe doctrine by that name.
What, then, is the course?
The Monroe doctrine, whether it
was ever so intended, has placed
the United States in a position
where it is made to appear as a
boss. No nation of people enjoys
being bossed. So, if the Buenos
Aires conference is to result in a
definite understanding by which the
peoples of the western hemisphere
are welded together in an effective
group, some understanding must be
evolved which will replace the ill
will engendered by the Monroe doc
trine. Possibly, that understanding
! lies in the direction being followed
by President Roosevelt. Apparent
ly, he is willing to subordinate the
Monroe doctrine and concede to
those other peoples on behalf of the
United States the end of our over
lordship.
Undoubtedly, it will be slow
process. Pres ent generations
throughout the South American ma
tons will be suspicious for a time
and will move with caution but
there are many who believe in even
tual agreement among the western
nations on general policy that
will keep us all out of European and
Far Eastern entanglements to a
greater extent than ever before.
The thing that may break down
the apparent Roosevelt plan is the
circumstance of drawn swords and
cooked rifles in Europe at the mo-
ment. It is entirely possible that
before concrete adhesion among the
North and South American peoples
can be accomplished, explosions in
Europe may take place. If they
do, propaganda agents of the con-
fiicting powers will be abroad in
stanter. Attempts will be made to
ALLEVIATE various nations in the west
ern hemisphere, to align them with
one side or the other in the Euro
pean controversy. 1t may well be
that this condition will ruin the
Roosevelt program before it gets
under way but a start has been
made and succeeding generations
will profit if the peoples of North
and South America can come to
regard themselves as an individual
group that is willing to make sacri-
fees necessary to cut off European
connections when the European
statesmen insist on fighting.
There is yet one more thought
concerning the South American SEES
sions. There are students of in
ternational affairs who already are
saying that history has repeated it.
self and that the United States has
lost, as usual, in its diplomatic deal
ings. They are saying that the re-
vision of the Monroe doctrine and
the rebirth of that policy under a
new name represents a gift by the
United States. It may well be that
such has occurred. But among
saner minds, I believe the convic-
ton is that the Monroe doctrine al
ready has undergone so many alter
atoms and revisions that a major
operation on its structure will clar-
ify the picture. The Monroe doc
trine was designed originally, of
course, to prevent European nations
from gaining foothold in either
of the Americas. That danger is
definitely past. Why, then, is it
necessary to perpetuate an anti
quated policy that has no purpose
any longer? Thus, it seems to me
that If a revision, even a casting
out of the Monroe doctrine can elm
mate suspicion of our governments
purposes among those peoples in
habiting the same hemisphere, it is
not too much to pay.
There was a great banquet held
at one of the hotels in Washington
p.IJ a few days ago. 1t
DTrnd0y is not unusual for
Observed great banquets to
be held in the
capital city but most of them are
just banquets. The one to which
refer, however, had significance
that is quite unusual. 1t commem-
GRATED the establishment of the
United States patent Office and cele-
brated its one hundredth birthday.
Something like eleven hundred in
ventors, research scientists, repre-
sentatives of industry and patent
Office officials entered the great din
ing room by candlehght. Then,
the POSTMASTER waved wand over
one of the greatest inventions of
modern times and the room was
bathed in an electric brilliance the
like of which has never been seen