Germany and the Monroe Doctrine
In the lengths to which Germany has gone in her dealings with the republic of Venezuela, it is easy to recognize a desire on the part of that leading European power to test the Monroe doctrine, which has been understood to mean “hands off,” to any European power that might look with covetous eyes on any portion of the Western hemisphere. After so much had been said about the Monroe doctrine, and after the United States had made a conquest of the Philippine Islands in the Eastern hemisphere, it was natural that the powers of Europe should desire to find out just how far they might go on this side of the water before the Monroe doctrine would be actually invoked. Germany especially, having large interests in South America, was interested in this question. By skillful diplomacy Germany succeeded in forming an alliance with England and Italy, creditors of Venezuela like herself, for the ostensible purpose of collecting their Venezuelan debts. Then, taking advantage of this alliance, Germany made open war upon Venezuela, sinking Venezuelan ships, and shelling a Venezuelan fort and town, causing great damage and considerable loss of life, all of which was entirely beyond what the necessities of debt-collecting demanded. She felt safe in doing this, because any interference by the United States would be met by England and Italy, her allies, their combined naval forces being of overwhelming strength. The precedent seems now to have been established that the European powers can make war upon a South American or Central American republic, to any extent short of an actual seizure of territory, without interference from the Monroe doctrine. England is now showing a disposition to withdraw from the alliance, but at the price, it is said, of a substantial sacrifice by the United States in the matter of the Alaskan boundary dispute.