255 



The Next Great Word in the Evolution of Peace. 



A PLEA FOR A DEVELOPMENT OF THE MONROE DOCTRINE. 



IT is my privii(.-;;e lo publish the following Manifesto by one of the shrewdest and ablest public men 

 to whom Latin America has gi\en birth in our time. It is a masterly presentation of a plea for taking 



a forward step towards the world's peace by adding to the Monroe doctrine, which forbids all conquest 

 liy European nations in the Western hemisphere, the important corollary placing under the same interdict 

 all conquest in the American Continent, without regard to the origin of the conquerors. Obviously 

 this interdict at first sight seems to have as its objective a desire to make the extended Monroe doctrine 

 a barrier against the possible ambitions of the countrymen of President Monroe. But in reality, as there is 

 no citizen of the United States who desires to make any such conquest, the acceptance of such a 

 formula by the Government at Washington would have as its first and immediate result the removal of the 

 one great obstacle which hinders the extension of the influence and the interests of the United States 

 in Latin America. 



It would, however, be a mistake to regard the proposal as one prompted solely by the position of 

 the United States. Such an extension of the Monroe doctrine is necessary to secure the success of the 

 Monroe doctrine itself. For that doctrine is not aimed solely at the prevention of European conquest. 

 It vetoes European intervention " for the purpose of oppressing " the American States or " controlling 

 in any other manner their destiny." The latter clause is often forgotten. It is obvious that 

 so long as conquest is allowed in the Western hemisphere any American Republic bent upon extending 

 its frontiers might enter into an alliance with a European or Asiatic State in terms which would 

 have the effect of placing the control of the conquered territory in fact, although not in form, in the 

 hands of the powerful ally whose military or naval forces had effected the conquest. If all frontiers 

 were stereotyped as they exist to-day — barring such readjustments as might be effected by friendlv 

 arrangements— this easy way of evading the Monroe doctrine could be as easily blocked. American 

 Republics would be delivered once for all from the temptation of wars of conquest, and this self-denying 

 ordinance would render it impossible for them to reward a European or an Asiatic ally with an 

 exceptional position in the conquered territory. 



'Ihere is a third consideration which must not be lost sight of. Britain, France and Holland all 

 have colonic.'' in South America. Suppose that by the fortune of war any one of these passed into 

 the hands of Germany, Italy, or Japan. As long as conquest is admitted as a right of American States 

 it is a moot question whether that right might not be claimed and exercised by the new holder of any 

 line of the Guianas. It may seem a remote danger, but it is as well to be on guard against all possible 

 ntingcncies. 



Wanted : a Revised and Extended which remain unsettled refer to special points, and do 



Monroe Doctrine "°'^ affect the fundamental doctrines. Furthermore. 



the effort to settle those differences and to re<ach 



I. — llll', .Ml-,.\'.\( E OF EXPANSION. perfect harmony is unceasing, and so widely spread 



The present conditions throughout the world '^hat it may be called universal. 



< annot be called those of peace and tranquillity. Even 'I''ie essential purpose of international law, in a world 



the most optimistically inclined must recognise the evolved from violence, bloodshed and greed from time 



' universal unrest prevailing in all manifestations of immemorial, is noble to the point of sublimity : justice 



' life— socially, within the States, and internationally, amongst nations. It is the highest ideal, embracing 



' amongst the Stales thcmselve,s. The ( onflict of classes liberty and charity, for where oppression or cruelty 



I is no less acute than the rivalry of Empires. begins, justice ends. 



Events to-day develop at a pace unknown in earlier . ^"^'h is the written law, ratified on countless occa- 



( periods. Modern methods of travel, transportation sions, AH the nations of the world cluster under its 



and communication have made the world smaller and protecting agLs, as the invulnerable shield of their 



accelerated the evolution from cause to effect, con- liberties and their existence, as sovereign peoples in 



dcnsing, .so to speak, into years or decades what in a new and regenerate world, from whi( h violence and 



former centuries only matured in the life of several injustice— in the eyes of the law of nations— are but 



generations. Social and international problems to-day ^^c memory of an evil dream. Well may the humanity 



\^ demand untiring wat( hfulncss and swift solution ; ^f ""'' fl^'v rejoice in a consummation so transcendent 



neglect or pusillanimity spell disaster, '" ''s results. 



INTKRNATIoNAI. I.A,W— IN TIIKORV. INTKRN ATK )N M, LAW— IN PRACTICE. 



All the civilised nations have accepted the j)rinciples The mere contem|ilalion of the daily orcurrencos 



: ol international law, which are identical for all of them. that range themselves as links of history, and the 



lllis un;miiiiit\ 1-,. indeed, rcassuriiic. Tin- liifTcrriK c^ .■in:i!v>is of ihi- riliiil!i'~s Irmliin ii-^ -,irin<- ;ind deep 



