Word: european
(lookup in dictionary)
(lookup stats)
Dates: during 1900-1909
Sort By: most recent first
(reverse)
Wagner began the debate and said in part: Under the presupposed facts of the question, a South American state has repudiated a just obligation which it owed to a European government. The creditor state has acted fairly and consented to arbitrate its claim. The debtor state has acted of its own free will in consenting to the Hague tribunal as a referee, and is in honor bound to accept the decision. We must presume that this decision was just, and that it set a reasonable time within which the South American country could have collected the sum and paid...
Grossman continued the debate for Harvard and said: The gentlemen from Yale would attach more presuppositions to the question. We must discuss a normal case, The gentlemen have suggested no means of collecting the debt other than seizing territory. By the terms of the question the European power could not seize territory exceeding in value the amount of the award. Our opponents have argued that to allow seizure of territory would be to abandon the Monroe Doctrine. We of the affirmative believe that wherever the Monroe Doctrine conflicts with justice and right, wherever it operates to destroy legal claims, wherever...
...supporting this doctrine of temporary suspension we not only do justice to an honest European creditor; we also greatly benefit the South American debtor. These states according to practically all authorities are exceedingly lax in meeting their financial obligations; by threatening them with the loss of part of their territory as punishment for their laxity, we should teach them national responsibility. We should teach them, moreover, to respect the principles of arbitration, and they will learn that to consent to arbitration implies an obligation to abide by the award...
...their own wrongdoing and they will soon eradicate the evils from which the loss arose. Any policy which allows the debt to remain unpaid after the day set for payment, would mean nullification of the award of the Hague tribunal. Not only, then, will our policy do justice to European countries, but also will it teach South American states invaluable lessons, and support the great principles of arbitration; it will give to the United States a position unique among nations; it will show European nations that there is one nation above the selfish desires of the old world...
...self government. Can she now calmly see done to them the worst injustice that can be done to any state--their land taken from them? The law never takes the mechanic's tools, the lawyer's books, nor can it take the home of the bankrupt. Once allow a European state a foot-hold in South America and it will be impossible to prevent its taking more and more or even destroying the republics. The justice of the Monroe Doctrine has been recognized by England, Germany, all the world. Why abandon it now when there is no necessity...