Evening star., 1936-09-11

cdnism" and the coming Pan
American Peace Congress In
Bnenos Aires.)
BY BRENT DOW ALLINSON.
The formulation Of the Monroe doc
krtne during the discussions which
preceded its enunciation in 1928 owed
much to the advice accorded Presi-
dent Monroe by Thomas Jefferson.
The doctrine as ultimately expounded
represented to high degree Jeffer-
sons philosophy of isolation from
Europe's dissensions and armed con-
flicts.
Nothing is so important" he
wrote in 1920, afer his retirement
from the presidency, to his friend,
the Portuguese Minister at WASH
ington, "as that America shall sep
arate herself from the system OF
Europe, and establish one Of her own.
Our circumstances, our pursuits, our
interests, are distinct; the principles
of our policy should be, also. All en-
tanglements with that quarter of the
globe should be avoided, that peace
and justice shall be the polar stars OF
American societies"
Stated Reasons to Monroe.
On another occasion he wrote to
Monroe (June II, 1929, at the time
of the formulation of the Monroe doc
trine, an even more striking, classic
formulation of the enduring policy
Of the United States toward Europe,
and of the reasons for it. He said:
IT have ever deemed it fundamental
for the United States never to take
active part in the Quarrels of Europe.
Their political interests are entirely
distinct from ours. Their mutual
jealousies, their balance of power, their
complicated alliances, their forms and
principles of government are all for
eign to us. They are nations OF
eternal war. All their energies are ex-
pended in the destruction of the labor.
property and lives Of their people.
I" +" On our part never had people
so favorable a chance OF trying the
opposite system of peace and frater-
nifty with mankind.
Thus, the Monroe Doctrine, In his
eyes, was essentially a peace doctrine,
aiming to guarantee the security and
international tranquility of the Amer
1can republics.
IT hope" he said, mo American pa
triot will ever lose sight Of the essen
tial policy Of interdicting in the seas
and territories of both Americas, the
ferocious and sanguinary contests Of
vrich 70
begun" CThat Is. the coalition of CO.
operative anti-war policies, which he
praised and practiced)
Doubted Latins' Preparedness.
But Jefferson was a prudent Presi-
dent as well as prophetic political
philosopher. He doubted whether the
Spanish and Portuguese colonies which
had Just declared and established their
political independence in South Amer
lea, were yet ready for the successful
practice of self government. There
might be, he thought. some hope Tor
Mexico.
"But the others, I fear" he wrote
TO Baron Alexander Won Humboldt
upon hearing Of the progress of the |
revolt Of the Spanish colonies, will |
end in military despotisms. - The |
safest road would be an accommoda-
tion to the mother country which shall |
hold them together by the single link |
OF the same chief magistrate, leaving |
him power enough to keep them in
peace with one another, and to them |
selves the essential power of self gov
ernment and self-improvement, until |
they will be sufficiently trained by edu-
cation and habits of freedom to walk
safely by themselves. Representative
government, native functionaries, q
qualified negative on their laws, with a
previous security, by compact, for free
dom Of commerce, freedom of the
press, habeas corpus and trial by jury,
would make good beginning. This
last would be the school in which their
people might begin to learn the exer-
else OF civic duties as well as rights.
For freedom of religion, they are not
yet prepared"
What Jefferson had in mind, as he
contemplated the advent upon the
southern horizon Of agalaxy of in
dependent States whose peace and
prosperity was of immediate and vital
concern to the United States was
something greater than the Monroe
Doctrine. 1t was a society of ma
tions- specifically group of them
composed Of France, Holland and
Russia-which the United States
might join, If necessary, in order to
GyJy p Ynfa "a al
integrity of the South American re-
publics-which, he feared, the United
States could not safely guarantee by
itself, without risking war with one
or more of the European imperialists.
For Brazil alone he contemplated a
real and immediate independence, be-
cause Brazil" he wrote to Lafayette,
May IA, 1917, "is more populous, more
wealthy and as wise as Portugal"
American System Seen.
But Jefferson was firmly convinced
that time would necessarily come
when all the American republics
would be drawn together by their
community Of interests and institu-
tions, and perhaps by their fear of
European imperialism, until, coales-
cng in an American system, inde-
pendent from and unconnected with
that of Europe, they would form
world of themselves
He looked to a shining perspective
In the future, when:
I'm whatever governments they will
end, they will be American govern
ments, no longer to be involved in the
never ceasing broils of Europe
America has a hemisphere to itself.
It must have its separate system of
interests, which must not be subordi-
mated to those Of Europe. The insu-
lated state in which nature has placed
the American continent, should so far
avail that no spark Of war should be
waited across the wide oceans which
separate us from them (Europe), and