The White Pine News

Chicago Journal:

Dr. Luis Drago, author of the much-talked-of Drago doctrine, is the chief delegate at The Hague peace conference from the Argentine republic.

It is known that he does not intend to bring his doctrine before the conference, out of modesty, we presume. But the conference should have an opportunity to examine the doctrine, which has become so popular in South America that every country has adopted it.

Though the Drago doctrine was first enunciated in a note to the United States in December, 1902, it has never attracted much attention in this country, and, indeed, is little understood. That is not surprising, however, for the Drago doctrine naturally does not interest United States as much as it does other nations which are liable to proceedings from stronger nations in search of payment for debt.

The doctrine is simply that the collection of public debts by force of arms is wrong.

While the payment of public debts in their entirety is binding on a nation, yet no nation should be deprived by force of the right to choose the manner and the time of payment, in which it has as much interest as the creditor himself. This argument naturally appeals to the governments of South America, and they are anxious to have it adopted by the peace conference, thus enabling them to be freed from the only fear of war with foreign countries the Monroe doctrine has left to them.

Whatever may be the thought of the Drago doctrine, it is useless to hope that it will ever be adopted by the creditor nations of Europe, who are interested in South American finances.

They have loaned money to South America. and they look upon the Drago doctrine as an excuse to defer payment indefinitely.

But, as a matter of fact, the doctrine is not needed by South American States, which are and will be sufficiently protected by the Monroe doctrine.