THE MONROE DOCTRINE

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1381, 6 March 1912, Page 6

THE MONROE DOCTRINE

GERMANY AND BRAZIL, (To tho Editor.) Sir,—For somo years past I have been picking up threads hero mid thero connected with the subject matter of my letters on Germany's aims and ambitions, etc., that havo appeared in your issues of March 11, 1011, April IS, 1011, and May 1, 1911; and had as J thought finally woven them together in the form in which they appeared in your paper. Having, however, received a rather pertinent inquiry asking how the suggestion put forth as to the advantages of Brazil as a country awaiting colonisation could 1» reconciled with the Monroe doctrine, and having also through tho courtesy of a friend who had seen the letters referred to, been enabled to read General Homer I»ea's book on 'The Valour of Ignorance," concerning which I feel compelled to say that I read it with dismay, and was amazed to find that tho writer, instead of emlrodying his views in a confidential report to his Government, should give general publicity in such language as the following:—"Sources of futuro conflict havo their origin in Japan's determined intention, to become supreme in the Pacific," "not only can Japan postpone or cause precipitation of hostilities, "every move is planned, every emergency taken into consideration, the American armament and preparation, or lack of it, are in all its phases tabulated, country surveyed, climatic conditions noted, depth of streams, heights of mountains, food supplies, means of transportation, etc., carefully investigated, and preparations made accordingly." "In this manner, years before war is declaTed tho most insignificant details are worked out, that-the war itself, when once begun,' proceeds with invincible orderliness to a predetermined end. In such a manner Germany overthrow an empire in less than two months, while tho irresistiblencss with which Japan conveyed her widely separated armies to tho ultimate defeat of Russia was carried on by plans so completely prearranged that r* tho entiro war Russia gained no single victory." Writing thus, General Homtr Lea, in his book, not only discloses the awful helplessness of his country, but has taken an infinite amount of trouble to illustrate the eame with a series of what may be called reconnaisance plans. It is said that Mahan's book, "The Influence of Sea Power on History," and his "Life of Neleon" are to be found as useful text books on every Japanese battleship. "Tho Valour of Ignorance" will no doubt bo added thereto. It is a relief to turn from such reading as this to a new review, "Tho Round Table," whose aim fs "to present a regnlnr account of what is going on in the King's dominions, written with.firsthand knowledge, and free from the bias of local political issues. Thcro are. two articles, one on "Anglo-German Rivalry," the other on "The Anglo-Japaneso Alliance," that appeared in the earlier issues, which are well worthy of perusal by ardent Imperialists. It is a publication that should bo found on the shelves of every public library, and'l take this opportunity of thnnking a friend of mino for drawing my attention to it. This by way of neces-. sary preamble to the Monroo doctrine. The following Temarks thereon by Albert Bushnoll Hart, LL.D., Professor of History in Harvard University, may bo read with interest: "After the crushing defeat of Napoleon, tho affairs of Europo passed into the control of a'sort of syndicate made up- of France, Prussia, Russia, and Austria, united in a pompous and ambiguous treaty called the Holy Alliance, the real purport of which was that if revolution should break out anywhere the'"combined military force of the Christian allies should be available to stamp it out. Accordingly, when revolutionists got control of Spain the allies sent tho French army which conquered tho country and restored the hated Bourbon sovereign (1823). An immediate result was that the Spanish Government called upon the ullijs to extend to America their system of crushing the revolutionary spirit. The real influence of the naval war was now visible in American diplomacy, for George Canning, British Foreign Minister, was so impressed with the force of the United States that he proposed to the United States to join in a declaration against the plan. About the same timo the Russian Government took occasion to expound its 'political system, , meaning the principle bat tho Spanish Americans onght to obey tho Spanisn Government. Tho man for the hour was John Quincy Adams, Secretary of State, whoso foresight, lively national spirit, and power (f vigorous expression enabled him to carry his convictions against tho hesitation of President Monroe. Instead of joining in a protest with Great Britain, which would have pledged the United States not to annex any Spanish-American territory, he drew up a declaration which was substantially introduced into Monroe's annual message of 1823. This is the celebrated Monroe Doctrine, of which tho essential principles are: That it proceeds from the United States alone; that it protests strongly against the proposed intervention of third parties in an American question not their own; that it insists that European Powers have no right to take part iti general American questions, because the United States takes no part in distinctly European questions; it vigorously opposes the transfer to America of tho European political system, which has been put forward by Russia, and it takes the opportunity to attack the territorial pretensions ot that Power ,by aclause declaring that the American Continents are all occupied, and no longer subject to colonisation by any European Power, though their existing colonies should bo respected. This is the Monroe doctrine, intended to secure the peace of America by preventing the bringing in of new influences., new quarrels over territory, and now efforts to establish European authority. , The octrine was completely successful in all it» branches. Russia hastened to make treaties, withdrawing most of her territorial claims. The plan of intervention instantly collapsed. From that. day to this Europe has recognised that in all American questions except those of thn continual possession of territory occupied by European nations in 1823, and the settlement of difficulties between a single European and a single American Power, the United States has a far greater interest and influence than any ether Power. Let us consider now how the whirligig of time has affected tho question. The following extracts from General Homer Lea's work will show the weakness of tho position under tho present-day circumstances:—"The Monroe doctrine is Promethean in conception, but not so in execution. It was proclaimed in order to avoid wars; now it invites them. Tho Monroe doctrine, if not .supported by naval and military power sufficient to enforce its observation.by all nations singly and in coalition becomes a factor more provocative of war than any other national policy ever attempted in modern or ancient limes." Again, "There have leen five separate causes productive of Mexican, Central, and South American exemption from conquest: (1) Inadequacy oi transportation and communication; (2) adjustment of European political conditions; (3) duration of the pre-invontivu or ncn-mechanical period; (4) a correspondngly low demand for natural services; (.))• the seclusion of tho Oriental races. One by one wo havo seen these sources of immunity vanish, and antithetic conditions imperceptibly tako their place, increasing each year in cumulative intensty. Herein lies the inevitability of war between this Republic and European as well as Asiatic natives, or a, complete repudiation of tho Monroe doctrine." According to the •'Statesman's Year Book,' 1909, Brazil has an area of 3,218,991 square miles, with a population of a. little over seventeen millions, of whom 0,300,000 nro whites, the rest being metis negroes and Indians—amplo room then or colonisation. In lato years tho quesion of tho German colonisation of Brazil has been much discussed. Tho American press has talked of tho "German danger" and of tho advisability of enforcing tho Monroo Doctrino against Germany's Imperialistic schemes. It. will too interesting in this connection to notice a. Bruxilian view of tho matter from tho "Jornal do Comorcio," December 5, 1901:— "Wo havo been, told," this paper says, ' that Germany is like an over-full bwlive, which must find room every vear for its swarm of bees." Accepting 'this viow of the case, the writer goes on to inquire "if there- is to be found in all the world any regions more suitable, richer, or more healthful than thoso that Brazil can ofl'er. Hero it is asserted there is room enough for all and on no other rondition but that the settlers shall spread themselves throughout the Union instead of clustering in one zone. If such a broadcast disposal of the German elements can be effected; the fusion of the races will go in a great way to produce .he most happy results, but, on the other land, tliould tag G-eraons insist on form-

ing a. small colony within tho State, the results cannot bo favourable. In the one caso they would tako part in tho national unity, they would become a new, strong race blended of sundry elements, and would help to produce a people full of energy and pregressiveness like the A'ortih American , nation, which, it is declared, owes many of its good traits to tho impression of German blood. But if this desirable end is to be attained it is declared to bo indispensable that the German Government should repeal tho law which limits tho emigration of its pons to tho three southern States only. \\hilo this law stands, it is nsscrted there is every right to doubt tho sincerity or the German Government, and the American press may continue with justice to accuse Germany of Imperialistic purposes. Should this stato of things continue, it is declared that Brazil must take precautions against such German' aspirations.

Wo havo then General Lea epeakins of a complete repudiation of tho Monroe Doctrino. In plain words he says tho Umtpd States havo no army to enforce it, tho Japanese mnnaco on her Pacific toast being of such a sorious nature that Blio will not bo able to hold her own there. I have a fugitive idea in my mind that I have seen it stated somewhere that tho Dominion of Canada has 600,000 trained men. This may require verifying; reference to the Statesman's Year Book shows that "all males between 18 and GO are liable for service." Some day maybe tho United States may find herself in tho position of having to lean on England and her colonies for naval and military assistance in a.death grapple. It must be remembered too that in tho days when tho Monroe Doctrine,was promulgated that tho sea. was looked upon ns a dividing thing, and the transport of troops, etc., by sailing ships was barred for weeks by tho severing sea, whereas nowadays it is a connecting thing. With the advent of mighty steamships tho I transport of whole armies with ajl necessary equipments is a question of a fixed date, a.nd the objective aimed at reached within a definite time. As Brazil is willing to receive German'.emigrants, under certain conditions, wo may therefore, conclude that thero will be a' complete repudiation of the Munroe' Doctrine in the near future. To the lay mind , force is given to this view by the. fact that whilst the- United States insisted that because it takes no part in distinctly European questions, it vigorously opposes tho transfer to America of the European political system; yet in face of such a definite declaration went outside what 6ho claimed to be her own sphere of influence when she fought n European Power, took the Philippines as part of the spoil, .being an advance port beyond Honolulu.' She thus made a breach in her own Doctrine which she still desires should be retained in its entirety, but. objects to its being abrogated, she herself is powerless to back it up and defend it.—l am, etc., GEORGE HENRY DA VIES. Mamari, Karori, Wellington, Jv'.Z., February 26, 1912.