The Roosevelt Corollary
...ates had a “moral mandate” to enforce proper behavior among the nations of Latin America, stating in his annual message to Congress on the 6th of December, 1904: It is not true that the United States feels any land hunger or entertains any projects as regards the other nations of the Western Hemisphere save such as are for their welfare. All that this country desires is to see the neighboring countries stable, orderly, and prosperous. Any country whose people conduct themselves well can count upon our hearty friendship. If a nation shows that it knows how to act with reasonable efficiency and decency in social and political matters, if it keeps order and pays its obligations, it need fear no interference from the United States. Chronic wrongdoing, or an impotence which results in a general loosening of the ties of civilized society, may in America, as elsewhere, ultimately require intervention by some civilized nation, and in the Western Hemisphere the adherence of the United States to the Monroe Doctrine may force the United States, however reluctantly, in flagrant cases of such wrongdoing or impotence, to the exercise of an international police power. (The Roosevelt Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine , 2004) With the Monroe Doctrine, President Monroe had in essence told the European powers “Thou shalt not intervene.” This Doctrine had been intended to keep European nations out of Latin America, but President Roosevelt’s corollary stated to the European powers “We will intervene in order to prevent you from intervening”. European responses were supportive, especially from creditors who were...