THE MONROE DOCTRINE.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXX, Issue 27, 18 September 1914, Page 4

THE MONROE DOCTRINE.

Mr Theodore Roosevelt recently do livered a political speech at Hartford Connecticut, in the course of wbic.' ho told his hearers that if the Monro, doctrine had not been steadfast!.' maintained the United in,pal probability would have been draw: into the present struggle. Africa wa being drawn into the fight and Americ; would doubtless also have been draw: in in the same way if it had not bcei for the observance of the priuoipb which the Monroe doctrine contained the principle that the American con tinont shall not be treated as a plac' for territorial aggrandisement by Old World Powers. Touching on the value )f arbitration treaties Mr Roosevelt went on to say:—Within a fortnight ve have had fresh proof of the uttci worthlessness of treaties, of name a'gned to pieces of paper, unless back ad by force, if power or interest de nands their violation. This fact hairnet) demonstrated again and again within the last dozen years by almost ■very one of tjie great nations who an■ow engaged in this war, or who staiid vith their armies partially mobilised Mid their fleets gathered because of the possibility of being drawn into it /heso proposed arbitration treaties ol urs would not be worth the paper on vhielt they were written if it became o the interest of any great military 'ower to violate them, and if n bought it could violate them wit!npunitv. We would have bound out--.rives in certain cases to wait a year ot o while a joint commission pursued ts weary courses of investigation, and lining that time an Old World military 'ower'. if it desired to retain its new tossessions, could make a Gibialtai ,f one of our West Indian islands, or 'f Magdalena, or any other point ci erritory which it acquired, and could lien defy ns to turn it out save at the ■ost of war which might be as dreadful -s any now raging.”