And State Papers 261 



there was no infringement of the Monroe Doctrine- 

 no acquirement of territorial rights by a European 

 power at the expense of a weak sister republic 

 whether this acquisition might take the shape of 

 an outright and avowed seizure of territory or of 

 the exercise of control which would in effect be 

 equivalent to such seizure. This attitude was ex 

 pressed in the two following published memoranda, 

 the first being the letter addressed by the Secretary 

 of State to the German Ambassador, the second the 

 conversation with the Secretary of State reported 

 by the British Ambassador : 



"DEPARTMENT OF STATE, 

 "WASHINGTON, December 16, 1901. 



"His EXCELLENCY DR. VON HOLLEBEN, etc. : 



"Dear Excellency: I inclose a memorandum 

 by way of reply to that which you did me the honor 

 to leave with me on Saturday, and am, as ever, 

 "Faithfully yours, 



"JOHN HAY. 



"Memorandum. 



"The President in his message of the 3d of De 

 cember, 1901, used the following language: 



" The Monroe Doctrine is a declaration that there 

 must be no territorial aggrandizement by any non- 

 American power at the expense of any American 

 power on American soil. It is in no wise intended 

 as hostile to any nation in the Old World/ ' 



"The President further said : 



