Evening star., 1962-09-16
By TOM JOYCE
Detroit News

Detroit News
Today. the harsh realities Of
the cold war, real people from
the State Department to the
Kremlin are pondering the doc
trine that has been a landmark
of United States foreign policy
since it WIS promulgated by Presi-
dent James Monroe in 1923.
The pivotal question is whether
the Monroe Doctrine has precisely
the same meaning in the nuclear
age that it had when the machine
gun was yet to be invented.
AN answer will not come easily.
In the meantime the Russian
build-up of arms on Castro's
island -onlys90 miles from Florida
has sparked loud protests on
Capitol Hill that the Soviet moves
clearly violate the Monroe Doc
tr5ne."
"A key problem in the growing
debate involves Interpretation of
the principles set down by Presi-
dent Monroe with considerable as
Sistance from his Secretary of
State, John Quincy Adams.
To some, like Senator Capehart,
Republican of Indiana, it seems
to dictate that the United States
move Immediately against Cuba
with whatever action is necessary,
including invasion, to halt the
flow of Russian arms and per-
sonnel.
To others, including Mr.. Ken
nedy, the mandate is not this
clear especially in view of the
potential consequences today.
Other Presidents have had to
wrestle with the doctrine. Down
through the years, in fact, it often
has been extremely difficult to
square the doctrine with crises
in the western hemisphere.
Historically there is much sig
nificance in the present crisis as
it concerns the policy enunciated
nearly 140 years ago.
One Of the more engaging points
is that problems involving the
same two countries bound up in
today's dilemma Cuba and Rus
sia-figured prominently in Presi-
dent Monroe's decision to act.
At that time Russia, which al
ready owned Alaska, was eyeing
other lands on the northwest coast
for colonization.
Feared English Designs
And at the same time Adams
was very much concerned that
Great Britain had designs on
Cuba. Much like jefferson and
other statemen before him,
Adams took a dim view of the
possible transfer of the island
from a weak power, such as Spain
then was, to a powerful nation
like Great Britain.
Adams thought that eventually
the Pearl of the Antilles" should
one day be owned by the United
States because it was considered
virtually a part Of Americas
coastline.
On top of this, there was fear
that an alliance of European
countries, led by Tsar Alexander
of Russia, might support moves
to retake the Spanish Colonies in
South America that won their in
dependence while Spain was busy
with the French during the
Napoleonic Wars.
The United States was con-
cerned about commercial interests
in Latin America and her posi-
ton Of leadership in the New
World.
1t was in such an atmosphere
that President Monroe, in his an
nual state Of the union message
to Congress, announced his policy,
which was not to be known as
the Monroe Doctrine until many
years later.
1.-The American continents"
Monroe told Congress, ". are
henceforth not to be considered
as subjects for future colonial
ton by any European powers"
And he added:
I'VE should consider any at
tempt on their part to extend
their system to any portion of
this hemisphere as dangerous to
our peace and safety"
Any "interposition" against the
sovereignty of existing American
nations, he said, would be re-
garded as an unfriendly act.
But there was also a second
side Of the coin. This was part
of the pronouncement which
spelled out the relationship of the
United States with Europe.
sOur policy in Europe" he said,
&c. is not to interfere in the
internal concerns of any of its
powers"
New Context
1t is this aspect that now poses
some difficult problems for Presi-
dent Kennedy and his aides who
plan foreign policy.
History, to, which Mr.. Kennedy
attaches deep regard, records that
the United States has been very
much involved in European mat
ters for more than half a century.
Because of this, as some foreign
policy experts privately confess, it
is not always easy for United
States officials to answer charges
such as those from Premiere
Khrushchev that the Monroe Doc
trine is dead.
Such was not the case in 1845
when President Polk first revived
the principles Of Monroe that had
been virtually forgotten since
1923.
Polk, in a move to end joint
occupation of Oregon with the
British, restated the doctrine
when he said the United States
would not permit a European COL
- - -. NTA-kI.