LATIN AMERICA.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1378, 2 March 1912, Page 5

LATIN AMERICA.

UNITED STATES OLIVE BRANCH. Bt reloarHDh—Fncs« A««oela.Uon—Copyright Panama, February 29. The United States Secretary of , State (Mr. Knox) is touring South American republics and has addressed public gatherings. During his speeches he asked for broader confidence and closer sympathy between the republics, and assured all the Latin American republics of the United States' goodwill. The United States' policy was 1 without ■ any sinister motives, although it had been often misinterpreted. Tho opening of the Panama Canal would show out in greater Telief the wisdom of the Monroe Doctrine.

UNCLE SAM ON POLICE DUTY. The United States haa become the guardian of the American continont, and, more particularly, the policeman of the Caribbean Sea and the countries and islands whose shores aro. washed by its waters. Although (writes A. W. Dunn in the "American Review of Reviews") this country has taken a deep interest in everything pertaining to the welfare of tho nations on this hemisphere from tho time the first republic was born until the Spanish war, that event has served to creato a new condition and accentuate the responsibility which, this Government assumed when it first promulgated the Monroe Doctrine. Tho acquisition of Porto Rico, a virtual protectorate over Cuba, and the control of Santo Domingo finances, have made our interests supremo in the West Indies. The Panama Canal, as President Tail, said iu his message urging the fortification of tho great waterway, has mado the Isthmus a part of our coast line, and in so doing has extended our interests to a much greater degree in the Central American Republics, Mexico is yearly claiming more of our attention on account of the American capital invested in that country. While the American flag may not float over these lands, yet everything between our sonthom border and tho Panama Canal may bo within our "sphere of influence," to use a term employed by European Governments in Africa. "At present," adds Mr. Dunn, "our control in the countries to tho south is exercised by peaceful means and moral influence, rather than by force, but events are so shaping that force may'be applied, because of the increasing interests which our citizens aro acquiring and tho obligations which we have assumed and are likely to assume in tihe future. That stability of the Governments will follow where the United States gives support is certain. Tho Governments which the United States has not approved have tottered and fallen, while those which were endorsed have survived. This fact will naturally mako every man in power in those countries seek to conduct his Government so as to raeot the approval of the United States, for it haa been demonstrated that revolutions which this country does not approve are failures. By this indirect method the guardianship of our Government over those countries becomes permanent."