Second speaker—Hurley
2. It is disastrous in its results, because
(a) It incurs danger of grave international complications
(b) It tends to increase the burden of debt in the South American republics
(c) It encourages a waste of the world’s capital, and
(d) It disturbs peace and stability in South America.
Third speaker—Bruce
3. It is unnecessary to collect in this way, because
(a) Peaceful methods have succeeded
(b) If these should fail, claims should be settled by The Hague Tribunal
(c) The fault has always been with European States when force has been used, and
(d) In any case, force should not be used, for it counteracts the movement towards peace.
BRIEF OF NEGATIVE ARGUMENT
First speaker—Branch
Armed intervention for the collection of private financial claims against some American States is justifiable, for
1. When other means of collection have failed, armed intervention against any nation is essentially proper, because
(a) Justice should always be secured
(b) Non-enforcement of payment puts a premium on dishonesty
(c) Intervention for this purpose is sanctioned by the best international authority
(d) Danger of undue collection is slight and can be avoided entirely by submission of claims to The Hague Tribunal before intervening.
Second speaker—Stone
2. Armed intervention is necessary to secure justice in tropical America, for
(a) The governments of this section constantly repudiate just debts
(b) They insist that the final decision about claims shall rest with their own corrupt courts
(c) They refuse to arbitrate sometimes.
Third speaker—Dennett
3. Armed intervention is beneficial in its results, because
(a) It inspires responsibility
(b) In administering custom houses it removes temptation to revolutions
(c) It gives confidence to desirable capital.
Among others, the following books were used in the preparation of the arguments:
N. “The Monroe Doctrine,” by T.B. Edgington. Chapters 22-28.
“Digest of International Law,” by J.B. Moore. Report of Penfield of proceedings before Hague Tribunal in 1903.
“Statesman’s Year Book” (for statistics).
A. Minister Drago’s appeal to the United States, in Foreign Relations of United States, 1903.
President Roosevelt’s Message, 1905, pp. 33-37.
And articles in the following magazines (among many others):