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The Monroe Doctrine, put forth in 1823 by President James Monroe,
called for an end to European intervention in the American
hemisphere. This applied only to independent governments in the
Americas, however, not to areas that were colonies at that time. In
what came to be known as the Roosevelt Corollary to the Monroe
Doctrine, President Theodore Roosevelt asserted that European
nations should not intervene in countries to the south of the United
States, however under certain conditions, U.S. intervention might be
justified. |
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"There are
certain essential points which must never be forgotten as regards
the Monroe Doctrine. In the first place we must as a nation make it
evident that we do not intend to treat it in any shape or way as an
excuse for aggrandizement on our part at the expense of the
republics to the south. We must recognize the fact that in some
South American countries there has been much suspicion lest we
should interpret the Monroe Doctrine as in some way inimical to
their interests, and we must try to convince all the other nations
of this continent once and for all that no just and orderly
government has anything to fear from us. There are certain republics
to the south of us which have already reached such a point of
stability, order, and prosperity that they themselves, though as yet
hardly consciously, are among the guarantors of this doctrine. These
republics we now meet not only on a basis of entire equality, but in
a spirit of frank and respectful friendship, which we hope is
mutual. If all of the republics to the south of us will only grow as
those to which I allude have already grown, all need for us to be
especial champion of the doctrine will disappear, for no stable and
growing American republic wishes to see some great non-American
military power acquire territory in its neighborhood. All that this
country desires is that the other republics on this continent shall
be happy and prosperous; and they cannot be happy and prosperous
unless they maintain order within their boundaries and behave with a
just regard for their obligations toward outsiders.” (Fifth Annual
Message, Washington, December 5, 1905.) |
