Evening star., 1937-09-25
The Coolidge Doctrine.


falrs of other nations in their deal
ings with our own citizens, it is
equally well established that our Gov
ernment has certain rights over, and
certain duties toward, our own citi-
zens and their property, wherever
they may be located. The person and
property of citizen are a part of
the general domain of the Nation,
even when abroad On the other
hand, there is a distinct and binding
obligation on the part of self-respect-
ing governments to afford protection
to the persons and property of their
citizens wherever they may be. 1t
would seem to be perfectly obvious
that If it is wrong to murder and
pillage within the confines of the
United States, it is equally wrong
outside of our borders. Funda-
mentally the laws of justice are uni
versal in their application. These
rights go with the citizen. Where
ever he goes, these duties of our Gov
ernment must follow him.
CALVIN COOLIDGE, April 25, 1927.
Mr.. Coolidge laid down the principles
above quoted in public address at New
York City. He was discussing disturbed
conditions in China, Mexico and Mica
ragua which had required Intervention
by this country on behalf of American
life and property.
1t was in the characteristically forth
right language of the Massachusetts
Governor who denied the right to strike
against the public safety "by anybody,
at any time, anywhere" that as Presi-
dent of the United States ten years ago,
In what was destined to be known as
"the Coolidge doctrine" he defined alike
the inalienable rights of American citi-
zens abroad and the inescapable duty
of the United States to safeguard those
rights, ewherever the persons and prop
erty of its citizens may be-
The Roosevelt administration has
commendably, if tardily, identified it.
self with the Coolidge doctrine-tardily
because only fortnight ago the Presi-
dent, in a casual remark to the press
at Hyde Park, warned Americans in
China to flee danger zones or remain
at their own risk. Today comes the
Navy Department with manifesto that
is complete reversal of the Hyde Park
ukase.
'Most American citizens now in
China" the Navy declares, "are engaged
IN business or professions which are
their only means of livelihood. These
persons are unwilling to leave until their
businesses have been destroyed or they
are forced to do so, due to actual
physical danger. Until such time comes,
our naval forces cannot be withdrawn
without failure in our duty and without
bringing great discredit on the United
States Navy. In giving assistance and
protection, our naval forces may, at
times, be exposed to dangers, which will,
In most cases, be slight, but in any case
these risks must be accepted"
In this proclamation of the United
States purpose to keep the Asiatic Fleet
under Admiral Harry E. Yarnell in
Chinese waters, to protect and assist
Americans "as long as the present con-
troversy between China and Japan
exists" there speaks not only the voice
OF Calvin Coolidge, but the voice of
John Paul Jones, Stephen Decatur,
David Farragut and George Dewey.
American bosoms will swell with pride
and satisfaction as it dawns upon the
national consciousness that it has at
length become the voice of Franklin D.
Roosevelt and Cordell Hull.
1t is a voice that radiates no murmur
Of war or threat Of war. It does breathe
In tones designed to echo across this
broad continent and the wide expanse
Of the Pacific into the innermost sane
tums of the Japanese and Chinese gov
ernments. 1t intones fitting supple
ment to the remonstrance just addressed
to Toxic, admonishing the authors of
the murderous devastation now in prog
ress at Nanking and Canton that they
will be held to stern accountability for
any damage accruing to American life
and property from wanton attack on
our -combatant nationals.
1t is difficult to escape the conclusion
that the administrations about-face re-
specting citizens who are business men or
missionaries in China is due to the
avalanche of righteous indignation
which descended upon Washington
when the recent policy of scuttle be-
came known to an incredulous Ameri-
can public. The back-water process, too
doubtless was hastened by criticism OF
the strange-and, as yet, not satisfac-
torily explained-action of Ambassador
Johnson's temporary evacuation Of the
Embassy in Marking at the demand OF
the Japanese admiral "in charge" The
tradespeople and missionaries who FOL