Interventionism And Good Neighbor

Intervention and Good Neighborliness

Reasoning for intervention: To keep Europe out To promote its economic/financial interests To spread Democracy

Military Interventions in the , 1898-1934 Country

Interventions

Costa Rica

1921

Cuba

1898-1902, 1906-1909, 1912, 1917-1922

Dominican Republic

1903, 1904, 1914, 1916-1924

Guatemala

1920

Haiti

1915-1934

Honduras

1903, 1907, 1911, 1912, 1919, 1924, 1925

Mexico

1913, 1914, 1916-1917, 1918-1919

Nicaragua

1898, 1899, 1909-1910, 1912-1925, 19261933 1903-1914, 1921, 1925

Panama

Source: Smith, Peter H. 2000. Talons of the Eagle. New York. Oxford University Press.

Reasoning for intervention: To keep Europe out To promote its economic/financial interests To spread Democracy U.S: limited autonomy for Cuba

Cuba: independence Spain: empire

Remember the Maine! February 15, 1898 “In the name of humanity, in the name of civilization, on behalf of endangered American interests.” --President McKinley

McKkinley War Message April 11, 1898 Nor from the standpoint of expediency do I think it would be wise or prudent for this government to recognize at the present time the independence of the so-called Cuban Republic. Such recognition is not necessary in order to enable the United States to intervene and pacify the island. To commit this country now to the recognition of any particular government in Cuba might subject us to embarrassing conditions of international obligation toward the organization so recognized. In case of intervention our conduct would be subject to the approval or disapproval of such government. We would be required to submit to its direction and to assume to it the mere relation of a friendly ally.

When it shall appear hereafter that there is within the island a government capable of performing the duties and discharging the functions of a separate nation, and having, as a matter of fact, the proper forms and attributes of nationality, such government can be promptly and readily recognized and the relations and interests of the United States with such nation adjusted.

Teddy in Cuba

Spanish-American War (1898) Cuba gained independence (from Spain at least) U.S. gained control over Cuba, Puerto Rico, Guam and Philippines

The Platt Amendment of 1901

Article III. The Government of Cuba consents that the United States may exercise the right to intervene for the preservation of Cuban independence, the maintenance of a government adequate for the protection of life, property, and individual liberty, and for discharging the obligations with respect to Cuba imposed by the Treaty of Paris on the United States, now to be assumed and undertaken by the Government of Cuba. . . .

A man, a plan, a canal, Panama (or maybe Nicaragua) Clayton-Bulwer Treaty, 1850

Hay-Herran Treaty, January, 1903 U.S. rights to canal U.S. support for Panamanian insurrection Independent Panama

Europe is still a problem British, German and Italian naval intervention in Venezuela, 1902

Argentine Minister’s proposal to U.S.

Roosevelt Corollary, 1904 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. Our interests and those of our southern neighbors are in reality identical……We would interfere with them only in the last resort and then only if it became evident that their inability or unwillingness to do justice at home and abroad had violated the rights of the United States or had invited foreign aggression to the detriment of the entire body of American nations.

Military Interventions in the , 1898-1934 Country

Interventions

Costa Rica

1921

Cuba

1898-1902, 1906-1909, 1912, 1917-1922

Dominican Republic

1903, 1904, 1914, 1916-1924

Guatemala

1920

Haiti

1915-1934

Honduras

1903, 1907, 1911, 1912, 1919, 1924, 1925

Mexico

1913, 1914, 1916-1917, 1918-1919

Nicaragua

1898, 1899, 1909-1910, 1912-1925, 19261933 1903-1914, 1921, 1925

Panama

Source: Smith, Peter H. 2000. Talons of the Eagle. New York. Oxford University Press.

Remember the Ideology of Democracy: We are the friends of constitutional government in America; we are more than friends, we are its champions.” “I am going to teach the South American republics to elect good men!” --Woodrow Wilson

To ensure democracy A consistent pattern of U.S. military intervention: 1. Troops arrived 2. Deposed rulers (mostly without a lot of force) 3. Installed a provisional government (hand picked) 4. Supervised national elections 5. Departed (mission accomplished) 6. Repeated as necessary Between 1830-1930, not a single U.S. intervention led to Democracy in Latin America

Law and Order are good for business: Dollar Diplomacy

EX: U.S. control of customs houses in Dominican Republic

Teddy’s Big Stick: If legislatures of countries disagreed Or If there were rebellions U.S. military sent in to restore order and install a government favorable to Washington

Military Interventions in the , 1898-1934 Country

Interventions

Costa Rica

1921

Cuba

1898-1902, 1906-1909, 1912, 1917-1922

Dominican Republic

1903, 1904, 1914, 1916-1924

Guatemala

1920

Haiti

1915-1934

Honduras

1903, 1907, 1911, 1912, 1919, 1924, 1925

Mexico

1913, 1914, 1916-1917, 1918-1919

Nicaragua

1898, 1899, 1909-1910, 1912-1925, 19261933 1903-1914, 1921, 1925

Panama

Source: Smith, Peter H. 2000. Talons of the Eagle. New York. Oxford University Press.

Case Study: Nicaragua (a potential canal site)

U.S. bought loans Conservative/Liberal violence U.S. Marines squash Liberal insurrection Conservative in power

Bryant-Chamorro treaty, 1916 U.S. rights to: •Build a trans-isthmian canal •A 99 year lease on the Corn Islands and on a naval base in the Gulf of Fonseca •Option to renew the naval base for an additional 99 years. All for the low, low price of $3 million (used to pay back U.S. banks)

It’s the economy, stupid! (not democracy, dummy)

Herbert Hoover

Goodwill Tour of Latin America, 1928

“True democracy is not and cannot be imperialistic.”

FDR

Good Neighbor Policy

“That is a new approach that I am talking about to these South American things. Give them a share. They think they are just as good as we are and many of them are.”

A dramatic shift in U.S. policy toward Latin America?

Or, Dollar Diplomacy II

By 1938, U.S. became leading overall trade partner for every major economy in Latin America (except Argentina and Chile) + Loans for cooperation

A second great war on the horizon Hemispheric security Economic aid against fascism

Panama conference of 1939: “in view of the democratic ideal which prevails in the American hemisphere, [it is necessary] to eradicate from the Americas the spread of doctrines that tend to place in jeopardy the common inter-American ideal.”

U.S. rejected Inter-American Bank in place of continued private and government loans.

“Why obscure the meaning of this solution, which instead of giving the Americas a new independent and neutral credit structure is merely going to increase our indebtedness to the United States.” -- Dr. Pedro Larránaga (Peru)

Cultural Dimensions of Good Neighbor Policy Cultural Division of State Dept. + Office of the Coordinator of Inter-American Affairs (OCIAA)

“The United States came in with a program of truth in answer to enemy lies.” --Nelson Rockefeller

Media: Free newspapers Articles in Magazines Art exhibits Translations of “non-subversive “ books Radio stations Consultants to Hollywood to “show the truth about the American way”

“it was the greatest outpouring of propagandistic material by a state ever.” --1942 State Department Memo about the OCIAA

“My Friends, I extend felicitations, To our South American Relations. May we never leave behind us All the common ties that bind us. One hundred and thirty million people Send regards to you…..” --Don Ameche in That Night in Rio

By the end of the 1930’s Dictatorship dominated most of Latin America.