Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1938-11-28
Writer Says Military
Alliance Needed Here
Contends Monroe Doctrine
Hos OutIived Its
Usefulness

Hos OutIived Its
Usefulness
To the Editor Of The Star:
The assembling Of delegates in con-
ference from the 81 American republics
at Lima. Peru, on December 8 for con-
sideration Of questions affecting the well
fare and security Of their respective
countries individually and collectively
makes timely some discussion of the
applicability of the Monroe Doctrine
under existing world conditions.
There were doubtless two reasons that
prompted PRONUNCIATION Of the doctrine.
The South American countries had just
thrown off the CALLING yoke of Spain,
and were endeavoring to establish
themselves as democratic republics, TAX
ing our form of government as their
model. At that time these countries
were small in population and in re-
sources, and were utterly incapable Of
resisting aggressions of European powers.
1t was therefore the purpose of the Mon
roe Doctrine to enable these countries to
work out their destinies and develop
their respective forms of government
without threat or fear of molestation or
intervention from any European country.
The other reason for the doctrine was
one of self-interest on the part of the
American Government, as it was realized
that should European governments,
which were then all monarchical and
utterly inimical to democracy, be per-
mitted to extend their systems to the
South American countries, and acquire
dominating influence in their govern
ments, as we'll as bases therein for mill
tary operations. our own security and
welfare would be seriously threatened
and perhaps jeopardized. That was a
long time ago, and the world has moved
forward apace since then. Most, If not
all, of the South American countries
have now established more or less stable
governments, and have grown greatly in
population, wealth, and in military
strength. In other words. they have
passed the infant stage, and have now
reached the dignity and responsibility of
full maturity. This would seem to make
the Monroe Doctrine obsolete and I'M
necessary and its continued assertion on
our part as reflection upon our South
ern neighbors, which they quite naturally
resent. 1t would appear that the time
has now come when we should recognize
them as equals in the realm of interna-
tional relations and cease to patronize
them as interiors who still need our
tutelage and protection. Under existing
conditions and with the growth and de-
velopment of the South American coun-
tries, the protection Of this hemisphere
from foreign aggressions has now become
the concern and the duty of all of the
republics and devolves upon them equal
ly. The responsibility for the protection
and the preservation of our respective
institutions, social and political ideals is
no longer the duty of the United States
alone, but rests equally and collectively
upon all of the nations of this hemi-
sphere. This fact should be recognized
by the United States, and to that end
our South American neighbors should be
accepted by us upon terms of equality
and on the basis of individual and COL
lective responsibility for the defense of
this hemisphere from foreign agrees
sions either political or military.
If these ideas are sound, and it would
seem self-evident that they are, the
present condition of world affairs would
appear to make the time ripe and the
need imperative for all the republics to
get together, and on the basis of sovereign
equality work out some plan for their
mutual protection and material welfare.
1t would seem that the Lima confer
ence offers an unprecedented opportunity
for such a contamination, SO necessary
and devoutly to be wished; and that
protection from foreign aggressions and
the promotion of the general welfare of
all of the Americas can best be promoted
by joint and several treaties between all
the American republics for an offensive
and defensive alliance.
1t is fully appreciated that there are
many difficulties in the way of accom-
plishing such alliances, and that even
though all the republics should respond
favorably to the suggestion the treaties
would have to be drafted with the utmost
painstaking care.
MAI. ALEXANDER SIDNEY LANIER.
November 10.