The Wilmington morning star., 1940-06-24
THE MONROE

TT is a strange circumstance that the integrity
l of the Americas should, in large measure,
depend, not upon sacred covenants, but upon
a. theory-a theory that the American hemi'
sphere is, and should perpetually remain, the
exclusive domain of Americans. The theory
has no standing in law. It is not a part of the
legal structure of the United States. Yet it
has proved a potent instrument OF restraint
on foreign ambitions in the past and upon 1t
may hang the solidarity and security of two
continents.
This theory, promulgated in 1898 by Presi-
world knows twas last invoked a week ago
to discourage German and Italian attempts to
take over French, British, Dutch or Danish
possessions in the Americas. For more than
a century it has variously been denounced. re-
spected and initiated. Both houses Of congress
have drafted resolutions which incorporate Its
principles, but have not sent them to the Presi-
dent for his signature.
B1sMARK called the MONROE Doctrine Inter.
national impertinence." South Americans have
frequently attacked it as a Yankee scheme
to stake out an empire. Japanese denounced
it until they recently instituted their own i'm
itation of it in proclaiming Asia for Asians."
ADOLF HITLER has given it his sincerest flat
terry in a new slogan: Europe for Europeans. "
All this from a message from President Mon.
ROE to the Congress of the United States.
When the Holy Alliance in Europe, under
took to put an end to the system Of repre-
sentative, government and to restore to the
Spanish empire of FERDINAND VII his rebellious
South American colonies, GEORGE CANNING,
British foreign secretary, suggested a joint
save representative government as to protect
a growing imperial trade in hides and coffee.
Monroe turned for advice to JEFFERSON and
MADISON, and they urged him to accept the
British offer. JoHN Quincy ADAMS, then secre-
tary Of state, demurred. He favored a move
along this line by the United States, but not
"as a cockboat in the wake of the British man
His advice prevailed. The statement,
made by the United States alone, still had the
implicit backing of the British fleet, and the
former Spanish colonies remained free.
The MONROE Doctrine first rubbed home a
warning to the Russian car over Alaska, stat
ing that the American continents are no
longer subjects for new European colonial
establishments. In his message to congress,
President MONROE declared:
We owe 1t, therefore, to candor, and to
the amicable relations existing between
the United States and those (European)
powers, to declare that we should consider
any attempt on their part to extend their
system to any portion Of this hemisphere
as dangerous to our peace and safety.
This important statement of the doctrine
has been expanded in the last century in two
important respects: not only Europeans but
all non-Americans are now barred by 1t from
territorial acquisition in the Western Henri.
sphere, and the bar applies not only to
colonies but to ANY transfer OF dominion Of
sovereignty
This, then, may become the last bulwark Of
world democracy, this declaration of Z ma
tional faith which the old world is still re-
luctant to accept, unless 1t be applied to their
own continents, as in the case Of Japan and
of Germany.