1903-4. ] INTERNATIONAL ARBITRATION, 5I 
When the Munroe Doctrine is nowadays spoken of, there is not neces- 
sarily any reference to the famous State Paper prepared and issued by 
President Munroe at the suggestion of Canning. That was a declaration 
fully justified by international law and by the special exigencies of the 
time. The present-day statements of the so-called Munroe Doctrine, 
involving as they do a claim on behalf of the United States to the 
hegemony of the whole American Continent, are quite a different 
matter. The Doctrine as now enunciated, and amounting to a claim 
of overlordship by the United States over the rest of the continent, 
has no basis in reason or justice, and is in direct conflict with the funda- 
mental principle of international law which postulates the Territorial Sover- 
eignty of Independent States. The United States, in adhering to the Hague 
Convention, reserves by a declaration all questions of the Munroe Doctrine. 
The plain meaning of this is, not that the other signatory powers accept 
the so-called Munroe Doctrine, but that the United States decline in ad- 
vance to submit any question relating thereto to arbitration. The Doc- 
trine as now propounded is based on might not on right. Those who 
would dispute any attempted application of the Doctrine must however 
bear in mind that might often prevails. 
Another feature to be noted is, that in connection with arbitration 
negotiations, such controversies as affect ‘‘the vital interests or the national 
honour of contracting States,’’ are almost invariably excepted. Vattel 
indeed excepts from disputes to which the method of -settlement by 
arbitration would be suitable, such as concern the safety of states. In- 
deed nothing has yet been devised to supersede the rule laid down by 
Carlyle, that where there is a will to quarrel there is a way. Where, on the 
other hand, there is a will to avoid a quarrel, International Arbitration 
affords an honourable and equitable way to do so, and in that consists its 
main usefulness. 
In the last analysis, the cause of peace depends on a gradual develop- 
ment of the sense of justice, of respect for the rights of others, and of rever- 
ence for law. Nevertheless, formal treaties of arbitration may well be 
advocated by those who in all nations are endeavouring (to use the eloquent 
language of M. Bourgeois, one of the French delegates to the Hague 
Convention) to bring the future of humanity under the majesty of the law. 
