The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1940-07-25
Economic . .


IGilu NeIlfldH governments concerning
the Monroe Doctrine reveals that this
traditional American policy is subject
to widely varying interpretations. 1t
| is also evident that Hitler is giving
the Doctrine an Interpretation which
was never imagined by President
Monroe.
The Monroe Doctrine did not come
into existence as a long considered,
carefully thought out statement of U.
IS. policy. Rather, it was swiftly con-
lceived to meet condition which, in
1888, menaced the sovereignty of this
nation. At that time the three great
European states of Russia, Prussia
and Austria had formed "holy alli-
ance" to crush revolution in Spain,
and were casting covetous glances on
ISpain's many possessions in the West
ern Hemisphere. In addition, Russia,
which then owned Alaska, was at
tempting to dominate the North
western coast Of this continent in the
interest of her merchant ships. So
President Monroe issued an official
warning in which he said that the
Americas "are henceforth not to be
considered as subjects of future colon
ization by any European powers" In
|other words, the status quo was to be
maintained so far as Europe was con-
|cerned. Afterwards, the policy which
has been declared to meet the emer-
|gency of the moment, became a con-
venient instrument for protecting
American interests in subsequent
|crises. We invoked it to drive the
French from Mexico after the Civil
War, to give the U. S. absolute instead
|of divided control over the Panama
Canal, and to force England to come
to terms when a border fight arose
between Venezuela and British Guiana.
Today it is obvious that the Doc
trine is to be used to provide legal
grounds for preventing the Axis
powers from seizing New World
possessions belonging to the Democ-
racies. Germany has met this chal-
lenge by asserting that the Doctrine
must work two ways if others are ex-
pected to observe it-that, in brief,
the y. S. must stop interfering with
European affairs if Europe is to keep
out Of Americas. And here is where
the vast difference of Interpretation
appears. For the Doctrine, as we have
always understood and applied it,
deals only with physical transfers of
territory, not with political activity.
We have never used it to deny a
European power the right to carry on
political or diplomatic work in our
sphere of influence. Hitler seems to
want to interpret the Doctrine to in
clude "moral suasion" no less than
military force.
In addition, hiieS. German officials
have intimated that they deem it
proper to apply Monroe Doctrine of
their own to Central Europe They
argue they have as much right to do
this as we have to apply the original
Doctrine throughout the Americas.
And again, there is great difference
in Interpretation. For we have not
used the Doctrine as an excuse for i'm
perial expansion and geographical ag-
gresslon. We have not believed that
it gave US the right to enslave and
Cypress other peoples. To the con-
trary, we argue, we have used it only
to protect weaker nations from the
possible oppression Of potential con-
Querors.
The President said on July 7th that
Europe and Asia should apply the
principles of the Monroe Doctrine as
a means of reaching agreement on the
disposition of possessions of the con-
quered poWers-that all should get
together and settle the attendant
problems, rather than allow them to
be decided by the victor That looks
now like an academic opinion, which
will find no favor whatsoever among
the staggering Axis powers.
Germany has said in response to
State Department warnings, that in
as she has shown no desire
to seize British and French possessions
in this hemisphere we have nothing to
'N''h e'bD"e yNI. DuG w du-
thorltles feel certain that Germany
will make moves in our direction in
time, and then the real test of the
Monroe Doctrine will come. 1t cannot
be effective unless the 20 Latin Amer.
lean Republics back it up with us. We
are working feverishly south of the
Rio Grande now in an attempt to
bolster our influence there, and enlist
both the continents in the crusade to
save democracy in this hemisphere.
X X X
Business barometers are we'll up,
largely III anticipation of the orders
the armament program should soon
give industry. SO far, appropriations,
or pending, for military
purposes have passed the $10000,OOO,-
300 mark, and will no doubt go much
higher. The navy is to be increased
by 70 per cent, to give us a two-ocean
Iieet infinitely superior to anything the
world has ever seen before. The army