Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1940-07-03
The Monroe Doctrine

From President Monroe's seventh
annual message to Congress, Deem
Der 2, 1921
-" At the proposal of the Russian
Imperial Government, made through the
minister of the Emperor residing here,
full power and instructions have
been transmitted to the minister of
the United States at st. Petersburg to
arrange by amicable negotiation the
respective rights and interests of the
two nations on the northwest side of
this continent. A similar proposal had
been made by His Imperial Majesty TO
the Government of Great Britain, which
has likewise been acceded to In
the discussions to which this interest
has given rise and in the arrange
ments by which they may terminate the
occasion has been judged proper for
asserting, as a principle in which the
rights and interests of the United States
are involved, that the American CONT
nent, by the free and independent condi-
ton which they have assumed and
maintain, are henceforth not to be con-
sidered as subjects for future colonial
ton by any European powers.
It was stated at the commencement of
the last session that a great effort was
then making in Spain and Portugal to
improve the condition Of the people Of
those countries, and that 1t appeared to
be conducted with extraordinary moder-
alton. 1t need scarcely be remarked that
ferent from what was then anticipated.
OF events in that quarter of the globe,
with which we have so much intercourse
and from which we derive our origin,
we have always been anxious and in
terested spectators. The citizens of the
United States cherish sentiments the
most friendly in favor of the liberty
and happiness of their fellow-men on
that side OF the Atlantic. In the wars
of the European powers in matters re-
lating to themselves we have never
taken any part, nor does it comport
with our policy so to do 1t is only
when our rights are invaded or seri-
iously menaced that we resent in
juries or make preparation for our de-
hemisphere we are Of necessity more
Immediately connected, and by causes
which must be obvious to all enlignt-
ened and impartial observers. The po-
litical system Of the allied powers IS
essentially different in this respect
from that OF America. This difference
proceeds from that which exists in
thoir rocractivo TO-. u ~, &Io
defense of our own, which has been
achieved by the loss of so much blood
and treasure, and matured by the wis
dom of their most enlightened citizens,
and under which We have enjoyed I'M
exampled felicity, this whole nation IS
devoted. We owe it, therefore, to can
dor and to the amicable relations exist
ing between the United States and those
powers to declare that we should con-
slider any attempt on their part to ex-
tend their system to any portion of this
hemisphere as dangerous to our peace
and safety. With the existing colonies
or dependencies of any European power
we have not interfered and shall not in
terfere. But with the Governments who
maintained it, and whose independence
we have, on great consideration and on
just principles, acknowledged, we could
not view any interposition for the pur-
pose of depressing them, or controlling
in any other manner their destiny by
any European power in any other light
than as the manifestation Of an I'M
ri W tnu nd Init nN
States. In the wars between those
new Governments and Spain we de-
clared our neutrality at the time of
their recognition, and to this we have
adhered, and shall continue to adhere,
provided no change shall occur which,
in the judgment of the competent au-
thorities of this Government, shall
make corresponding change on the
part of the United States indispensable
to their security.
The late events in Spain and Portugal
show that Europe is still unsettled. OF
this important fact no stronger proof
can be adduced than that the allied
powers should have thought it proper,
on any principle satisfactory to them
selves, to have interposed by force in
the internal concerns of Spain. To
what extent such interposition may be
carried, on the same principle, is a
question in which all independent powers
whose government differ from theirs are
interested, even those most remote, and
surely none more so than the United
States. Our policy in regard to Europe,
which was adopted at an early stage of
the wars which have so long agitated
that quarter of the globe, nevertheless
remains the same, which is, not to
interfere in the internal concerns of any
of its powers; to consider the govern
ment de facto as the legitimate govern
ment for us; to cultivate friendly rela-
tons with it, and to preserve those rela-
tons by a frank, firm and manly policy,
meeting in all instances those just claims
of every power, submitting to injuries
from none. But in regard to those con-
tinents circumstances are eminently and
conspicuously different. 1t is impossible
that the allied powers should extend
their political system to any portion Of
either continent without endangering
our peace aid happiness: nor can any
| one believe that our southern brethren,
If left to. themselves, would adopt 1t of
their own accord. 1t is equally i'm
possible, therefore, that we should behold