Evening star., 1945-11-02
Byrnes Seen Debating
With Russiu in Open
Evolution Of u. S. Policy Talk
Called Statesmanlike
By Dapid laurence

Called Statesmanlike
By Dapid Laurence
Secretary OF State Byrnes, In his
speech this week, has made a states
manlike attempt to straighten out rela-
tions between the United States and
Russia.
Mr.. Byrnes did not suggest Monroe
Doctrine for Russia, as hastily inter-
preted by some headlines. The reason
for this Is that the Monroe Doctrine as
originally conceived has now been super
seded by the adherence of the United
States to the Charter of the United
Nations Organization.
What Mr.. Byrnes tried to do was
to use the evolution of United States
policy under the Monroe Doctrine as
a means Of persuading Russia that the
end result-the good-neighbor policy
is much better basis for maintaining
her security in Eastern and Central
Europe than any system of special or
exclusive privileges in a given sphere
OF influence.
Mr.. Byrnes was debating with Russia
out in the open-a splendid technique.
He was trying tactfully to explain that
while the United States originally pro-
claimed the Monroe Doctrine as means
OF preventing European countries from
invading the republics of this henli-
sphere, at no time was the use of the
doctrine justified to intefere in the
internal affairs of other countries in
this hemisphere.
Comedies Force Once Used.
The Secretary was frank about 1t. He
conceded that there were times when
dollar diplomacy and even force were
used by us to intervene in the internal
affairs of the Latin American republics.
But he indicated that the United States
had since matured and had outgrown
those imperialistic impulses.
Our good-neighbor policy at the mo-
ment is to keep hands off the internal
affairs of other countries and this. Mr..
Byrnes argued, was a good example for
the Soviet Union to follow in her rela-
tions with neighboring countries in
Europe. The Secretary, being mindful,
OF course, of what our Ambassador at
Buenos Aires has been preaching re-
Gently to the Argentine people, was
careful to point out that the American
people have right through their Am
bassador to say what they are thinking
about and to urge that governments
rest on the consent of the governed.
But he implied that this expression of
opinion was far different from military
intervention or active interference in
the governmental processes of another
country.
Mr. Byrnes' speech is of historic i'm
| portance because it reconciles our policy
| prevailing long before the Chapultepec
| conference and before the adoption of
the United Nations Charter with what
has happened since.
Today the United States does not
take-or isn't supposed to take-unila-
teral action with respect to what is
happening in Central and South Amer
lea, but is obligated to consult with the
other inter-American powers. Today the
United States does not use her military
forces under the broad limits of the
| original Monroe Doctrine to back I'D
her diplomatic policies in this hemi-
| sphere. A regional ARRANGEMENT has
been consummated under which all the
republics of this hemisphere have a
mutual responsibility and, adhering to
the United Nations Charter, they can
| repel armed attack, but cannot take en-
torcement action even to protect the
interests OF the hemisphere against
threatened invasion by European ag-
! gressors unless the Security Council of
the United Nations appears to be fall
ing to furnish that protection.
| Nub of Argument.
The key to Mr.. Byrnes' whole argu-
ment is to be found in the following
sentences from his speech:
"Inter-American cooperation is not
inconsistent with worldwide Cooper
alton among the nations. Regional ar
rangements, like the inter-American
system, which respect the rights and
interests of other states and ft into
the world system, can become strong
pillars in the structure of world peace.
But We cannot recognize regional
arrangements as a substitute for world
system. ,"
I'VE live in one world, and in this
atomic age regional isolationism is even
more dangerous than is national isola-
tionism. We cannot have the kind of
cooperation necessary for peace in a
world divided into spheres of exclusive
influence and special privilege"
This is sound American doctrine
| Wilsonian doctrine. Roosevelt and Hull
| doctrine, and the doctrine of the Con-
| gress of today which has written it into
the ratified United Nations Charter.