THE MONROE DOCTRINE

Hokitika Guardian, 4 August 1925, Page 3

THE MONROE DOCTRINE

According to the Monroe doctrine, any intervention of a European Bower in the affairs of any State of America, from tlw Canadian border to Cape. Horn, is n cause of war against that State by llie United States. The declaration of that doctrine was made in 1823. The American licet now visiting the southern parts ot the British Empire represents the naval might of the United States behind the .Monroe doctrine, which is as much alive to-day as it was a hundred years ago. How does the doctrine alfcct the Buitish Empire which is now entertaining the United States Navy?

The doctrine .strengthens the friend!v relations between the Empire and the United States Republic. This he’■aiisc the doctrine originated in the brain of a British statesman, and lias

been scrupulously adhered to by bis successors throughout the century of. its existence. Tl is. therelore. worth while to briefly review its history. After 1813 the Austrian Prime Minister. Metternieh, established till' Holy Alliance of Austria. Prussia. Russia, and Britain (a half-hearted member) — for the purpose of checking revolution-

■irv ideas by strengthening autocratic monarchy all over I lie world. fntcrvention everywhere "as ilie basic method agreed upon as the basis ol this famous coalition. In 1822 tbe Holy Alliance applied its basic principle by smashing two revolutionary movements in Italy, arising out of the Italian discontent with the Treaty of Vienna, signed after Waterloo. Tn 1823 it restored by force the Spanish monarchy and made it absolute. It then let it he known that Hie Holy Alliance was about to help the restored Spanish monarchy to conquer and punish—-the revolted Spanish Vmeriean colonies, which had recently made themselves independent States. Upon this. Canning, then Prime Minister of England, detached Britain from the Holy Alliance, and declared that, while recognising that Spain might, if she could, recover her revolted colonies, England would not .stand for auv intervention by any European Power. Upon hint of this, fortified by the urge of secret dispatches of Canning. President- Afonroe issued fils famous nroclamation. Tn this the declaration was prominent, that any European intervention “in any portion ol tlii hemisphere, for oppressing, or in auv way controlling, the South American States.” would he regarded as dangerous to the l nited States, and unfriendly.

Thus the Alonroe protest, alter the hint and example of Canning, ended the era of intervention so fatuously established hv Metternieh. The Afonroe doctrine has had the support ol Britain steadily. A notable instance was on the occasion ot the United States order to Louis Napoleon to take his troops away'from Afexiro ■mil the side of the Emperor Afaximilian. Another was in the Spanish-Am-crioan war. when the British Government declared that any European intervention would find the British 1) leefc in the way. It is. therefore, safe to conclude that the establishment and maintenance of tbe Monroe doctrine is one ot the powerful bonds strengthening the friendship between the British Empire and ibe great Rcpunlie. whose sailers we are about to receive in highly friendly fashion.