Sold – Theodore Roosevelt: The U.S., and Not Britain, Originated the Monroe Doctrine

Some historians consider that the real precedent for the Monroe Doctrine was a proposition made by George Canning, British Minister of Foreign Affairs, who suggested joint U.S./British action to keep South America out of the hands of other powers. It was in effect a proposal that the two nations form a protectorate over the Western Hemisphere, under the wing of the Royal Navy, and with a policy that no Western Hemisphere territory be transferred to other powers. No recognition of South America’s independence was suggested in Canning’s proposition, and likely none was intended.

This proposition was considered by the Monroe administration and rejected. Instead, an alternative policy was outlined by the Secretary of State, John Quincy Adams, which was embodied in President Monroe’s message to Congress on December 2, 1823. It was to recognize the independence of South American nations, and to protect all independent nations in the hemisphere against efforts of any European power to colonize or bring them into Europe’s “system” of alliance and balance of power. Despite the apparent difference between Canning’s proposal and Monroe’s policies, the controversy over whether the Monroe Doctrine was of American origin continued and became a subject of interest to American diplomats. One of these, State Department official Charles Lyon Chandler, knew that TR was leaving in a few months for South America and hoped he would make the point that the Doctrine was American as part of his lecture tour.

Typed Letter Signed on The Outlook letterhead, New York, June 30, 1913, to Chandler. “Many thanks for the quotation from Scruggs, which will be useful. It completely disposes of the claim that Canning originated the Monroe Doctrine; but I doubt very much whether I shall want to make any especial insistence upon this matter while I am speaking in South America.”

Roosevelt’s unwillingness to discuss the subject in South America may indicate his concern that, although it would recognize the originality of the Monroe Doctrine, it might be an unwelcome reminder of U.S. hegemony in the region. William Lindsay Scruggs was a diplomat and author who served as U.S. Minister to Colombia and Venezuela. Chandler wrote an article in the October 8, 1914 issue of The Nation on this subject, contending that the Monroe Doctrine was wholly of American origin. The letter is trimmed and has some repairs.