E42 ANY Mercredi The Roosevelt Corollary

Doc 33: The Roosevelt Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine

Central quote: “Any country whose people conduct themselves well can count upon our hearty friendship. Chronic wrongdoing, however… may force the United States to exercise an international police power.” l. 4, 7-11

The Roosevelt corollary was mainly motivated by the fear of the US administration that European powers would use non-payment of debts as an excuse to intervene in Latin America (ex: Venezuela in 1902) and therefore violate the Monroe Doctrine.
In 1901 France, Italy and Belgium threatened to use force to collect payment of debts owned their citizens by the Dominican Republic. The Americans also feared the Germans might use a possible revolution in the country as an excuse to land troops for the enforcement of their business claims. This threat was the occasion for Roosevelt to issue the Roosevelt Corollary.
In 1905 a treaty was finally negotiated between the US and the Dominican Republic by which the US would manage customs houses and oversee payments of its foreign debts. This manifestation of “international police power” was widely criticized in the US and aroused great apprehension throughout Latin America.( 1916: a revolution threatened former treaty arrangements and American military intervention to maintain peace, 1924 new treaty and American forces left the nation).

Second main argument of the document: according to the Monroe Doctrine , Europe could not intervene on the “American Continents”, therefore the US stood as the only “civilized nation” (l. 9) left to police that part of the world.
American intervention justified by Roosevelt to maintain the independence of South American countries (cf. ref in the extract) yet up to these countries to “make good use” (l.25) of it, the proper use being defined by the US itself.

A commonality of interests is, however, stressed by the President : L. 14-15: American intervention also justified by the defense of American interests (CF. McKinley on the Philippines)


References:

l.14 The Platt Amendment: 1903 :
Cuba had no right to conclude a treaty impairing its independence
The US had the right to intervene to preserve Cuban independence
Land granted to the US so that it could set up “naval and coaling stations “ (Cf. Guantànamo)

l.27 “circumscribe the theater of war in the Far East”: Roosevelt was personally involved in the negotiations to put an end to the Russo-Japanese War. Treaty ultimately signed Sept 5, 1905.

Puerto Rico:
1900 unincorporated territory
1917 Puerto Ricans granted American citizenship
1952 New Constitution: voluntary association with the US as a commonwealth


US intervention abroad at the beginning of the 20th century was justified by the belief that only in orderly societies could the US find political cooperation and the long-term markets for the goods and capital its corporations produced (Cf. numerous references to “order”: l. 3, 6, 17). Also justified similar foreign policies from T. Roosevelt to W. Wilson: to create conditions for the overseas expansion of an ever-expanding American economy. Only noticeable change: shift from Roosevelt’s “big stick policy” (use of military force to decide world affairs) to Dollar Diplomacy. President Taft (1909-11913) was determined to use American money to foster American diplomacy abroad keeping in mind the idea that political stability was necessary to support a growing exporting power. President Wilson (1913-11921) continued the Dollar Diplomacy policy; for Wilson capitalism and open markets were necessary for the establishment of safe and democratic systems, though an anti-imperialist himself, he was also compelled to resort to the ‘big stick’ when the policy of Dollar Diplomacy failed (ex: Mexico and Haiti)

Yet Roosevelt, despite his aggressive handling of foreign affairs, had no desire to establish a formal American empire in the Caribbean or elsewhere in the world. The successive administrations during the progressive era saw the various interventions in Latin America and elsewhere as opportunities to back up and expand the American economy. (American overseas investments jumped from $800 million in 1898 to over $ 21 billion in 1909.)
With Taft the tactics changed but not the objectives, and Wilson, during the 1912 presidential campaign declared: “Our industries have expanded to such a point that they will burst their jackets if they cannot find outlets in the markets of the worlds.”

During the whole period then economic necessity (exports) and pattern of economic development (industrialization, monopolies and foreign investments, better products and better transportation) at home influenced American intervention and expansion abroad.


Further information


Haiti:
1915 : military occupation imposed by President Wilson, American control of finances, public works, sanitation, and the police force
1934: last military personnel and civilian administrators withdrawn

Nicaragua:
1916: American military intervention following political disorder and American banks took control of the collection of customs money to repay the debts owned European powers, the marines left in 1925, went back to quell civil disturbances in 1926 and withdrew in 1933.

Mexico:
intervention in 1916 following Villa’s raids in New Mexico, American troops failed to capture Villa and left after a few months.