The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1938-11-19
MONROE DOCTRINE
MAIN CAUSE FOR
G GREATER NAVY
GIVE RESUME OF HISTORY
RELATIVE TO ACTIVITIES
INCLUDING DIFFERENT MA
TIoNs
(By PRESTON GRoVER9
APP Feature Services

WASHINGTON, Nov. s19s77 For
those who have forgotten their
school book history and wish a
quick review, we give you-The
Monroe Doctrine, one big reason
the U. S. is building a bigger
navy.
By 1920 Spanish colonies in the
Americas were shaking off Span
ish control. The United States
automatically recognized them
as fast as they did so.
France was casting covetOus
eyes upon America. On Oct 8,
1923, England served a virtual
ultimatum on France and the
rest of Europe to let Latin Am
erica alone. To a degree that
jumped the gun jonrthe U. S. in
announcing a sort of Monroe
doctrine"
Earlier that year John Quincy
Adams, secretary of state, had
cautioned Russia against estab-
fishing itself on the Pacific coast.
Some Call II 'Impudent'
Adams, Thomas jefferson and
President Monroe are variously
credited with conceiving the
Doctrine. President Monroe on
Dec. 2, 1923, sent to congress a
message embodying it. Some
historians say it was an i'm
pudent gesture Europe paid lit
tie attention. The British an
nouncement already had stalled
the French.
AS outlined by the authOrita-
tive Yale historian, Samuel Flagg
Bemis. the dostrine provided:
1T does not comport with
the policy of the United States to.
take any part in the politics or
the wars of European powers in
matters relating to themselves.
7 2-The United States would re-
gard as the manifestation of an
unfriendly disposition to itself
the effort of any European
power to interfere with the poll
teal system of the American con-
tinents, or to acquire any new
territory on these continents.
: Nevertheless, we did not take
arms against England when it.
seized the strategic Falkland Is
lands from Argentine in 1888. We
did not oppose France in 1888
when it blockaded Vera Cruz to
support claims against Mexico.
When French and British fleets
blockaded the coast of Argentina
in 1845-48, President Polk nerv-
ously. insisted that the Doctrine
applied only to North America.
Thus Ended Macmillan
In 1861 Emperor Napoleon III
set Maximilian on the Mexican
throne. When the Civil war end
ed the u. S., with veteran armies
at hand, persuaded the French to
leave Thus abandoned, Mexi-
milan died before a firing squad.
A Spanish invasion of Peru al
so during the Civil war period
was ended by a firm u. S. atti-
tude.
In 1896, England. alarmed by
Kaiser Wilhelm's sympathy with
the Bears, abruptly ended a dis
pute with the u. S. over the
Venezuelan boundary.
/ Venezuela had further trouble
with European powers in 1902
over payment of debts. Italy.
Germany and Great Britain
blockaded her ports PresideAt
Theodore Roosevelt laid the mat
ter before The Hague tribunal,
which imposed upon the U. S. the
duty of overseeing the fulfill
ment by Venezuela of her agree
ments.
Spain was eliminated from the
Americas in the Spanish war.
What has happened since?
It's Still The Doctrine
The United States has recog-
nized an increasing participation
by the other American republics
III the protection of the hemis-
phere Certain critics say we
have traded away our indepen-
dence in applying the Doctrine
since technically the u. 6. can
not act without consulting the
ether American republics. ..m-
Realistic observers say that.
pacts on 20, when foreign gkv4
emments attempt lodgnfeni wAA4
n. the Americas. the z. IS. wfll
interfere.
Sumner Welles. under-secre-
tary Of state, added the latest
w'ord within the past few days.
Renewed u 5. armament. he
said. Is designed 10 back up Pan
AmericanlSn by blocking foreign
aggression ia the western hemis-
pFere whole Of IL
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