The Wanganui Herald. [PUBLISHED DAILY.] SATURDAY, DECEMBER 6, 1902. THE MONROE DOCTRINE.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 10817, 6 December 1902, Page 4

The Wanganui Herald. [PUBLISHED DAILY.] SATURDAY, DECEMBER 6, 1902. THE MONROE DOCTRINE.

Outside of America the ' full meaning of the above is known to few outside the higher political circles, and in the colonies is often, the cause of considerable discus;' sion among newspaper readers, who now and again find references to it' in the columns- of the daily press. The "Monroe Doctrine" was promulgated by President' Janief Monroe, who" occupied the White House for two terms extending from 1817 to 1824, and was to the effect that the United States Government would not permit any European power to interfere in restraining the progress of liberty in North or South America. It was the. outcome of a desire on the part of Russia and Spain "to- encroach on the American Continents, the former in Alaska and the latter in South America, *]iere it wished to regain some of its former possessions whose population had revolted and thrown off the Spanish yoko. It has since played an important part iv the policy of the differentUnited States Governments that have held office since the laying down of the Hoc- i trine by its author in the early part of last century. President Roosevelt thus refers to the doctrine in his work "American Ideals," published in 1897:— "The Monroe Doctrine is not a question of law at all. It is a question of policy.'. . . The Monroe Doctrine may be briefly ' tiefined as" forbidding- European encroachj mcu.t ou American soil. It is not desirable to define it "so rigidly as to prevent our taking into account the. varying* degrees of national interest in-varying. cases. The United -States has not the slightest wishto establish a universal protectorate' over other American ' States, or to become responsible for their misdeeds. If one. of lliein becomes involved in an ordinary quarrel with a European Power, such quarrel must' be settled between them by any one of the- usual methods.' But no European St«tn is to be allowed to aggrandise itself on American soil at the expense of any American State. Furthermore, no transfer of an American colony from one European State to another is to be permitted, if, in the Judgment of the United, Stales, such transfer would be hostile to its own interests." Speaking at Vermont in September last. President Roosevelt also Paid : "The Doctrine will be respected as long as we have a first-class, efficient nayy — not very much longer. In private life, a man who a9serts something i

that heMs going td no, and does not baci it up, is always a contemptible creature, and as a nation/ the last- thing we caa arfbrd to dp is" tS> fake up a position which we do*nol intend to make good." In hu late message to Congress, President Roosevelt reaffirms the above, and lays increasing stress on the necessity for a strong United States JNavy. The HJnited Statee jGiovernment has no disposition to interfere with the affairs of other American . Bepublics, nor would it allow them to be assailed by any European Power, which miglit wish to annex territory on either of. the American- Continents. 'The people of the' South American'; Republics tfre free to fight* amongst themselves as- .long as they choose, and settle' by force of arras which party shonld rule ; i but no foreign Power can iutervene, except it has been attacked, or its subjects ill-Used and injured by the belligerents. It Could under 'mich circumstances punish the Woug1 , doers, but it would not -be permitted to annex this territory. Quite lately the Venezuelans gave offence to Germany by detaining some- of the latter's merchant vessels, which iv6re suspected of carrying contraband of war to the^insurgents. This led -to the "young man in a hurry," qs the* German Emperor has been dubbed, ordering several warships to proceed 'at once to" Laguayra. In consequence of this the" United- States • Government hurriedly despatched, some of its warships ioifhe same destination to see that tfye Monroe Doctrine .was not ( infringed *" 'by 1 whoso Emperor is not-too friendly towards tli& jUnitod States ' Government or its policy. ' '