TOPICS OF THE TIMES

Southland Times, Issue 18835, 31 May 1920, Page 4

TOPICS OF THE TIMES

The ministry of public instruction in Spain has instituted a special library for children in the building of the National Library. The proposed library is to be open during the'same hours' as the National Lib> ary itself, and is to admit children under *l4. Once it has begun to be operated, children under that age Will not be permitted entrance into any other library in Madrid without a special permit specifying the books needed. Special funds have been provided for the library, which will specialire not only on juvenile, books, but also reviews and papers that concern themselves wi;h youngsters'and their particular problems.

Some idea of the opinions of the United States held by other nations on the American continent can be gained by the pointed remarks of Signor Saenz, the Mexican Minister to Brazil," recently on the subject of the Monroe Doctrine. He declared that the Monroe Doctrine constituted a real danger to the nations of the American continent because .ts application by the United States has been made according to the varying point of view of each one of the administrators who had ruled the destinies of that

country'- “For Elihu Root -the doctrine isl the right the United States has of protect i mg itself ns a sovereign independent na tion,” Senor Saenz asserted. “President Wiison, on his part, declared two years ago i that the doctrine did not exist, while Sen- i ator Lodge thinks it ought not to remain i the exclusive charge of the United States.” i After referring to 'he recent request of the j Government of Salvador for an interpretation of the Monroe Doctrine because of this j “disparity of judgment,” Senor Saenz con J tinned: “Mexico, which does not accept any | doctrine contrary to its sovereignty, has never needed other pro.ection or aid than its own forces.”

The woman’s movement in Spain is having its troubles, as might have been expected of the nation (hat has given us so many classics! drama.- hared -upon the dramatically effective, but socially unjust and obsolete “point of hnnou".” Indeed, as a 'Spanish paper, (he Prensa, of New York, points out editorially, the cause has not found it all smooth sailing, even in the United State', where woman has always enjoyed a measure of liberty that surprises the semi-secluded women of Spain. In Span, tradition is agamst the woman, as well as the church, which formerly opposed man suffrage as it now does woman suffrage and favoured the divine right of kings. The recent suppression of the Feminist Congress in Madrid is a di'couraging symptom, but not altogether indicative of a hopeless condition. Not far beneath th° =orfpce in Spain is a genuinely modern ebullition and repressive measures will only hasten its emergence.