5. LATIN AMERICA AND THE WORLD WAR, 1914-19. The attitude of the Latin-American countries as a whole toward the conflict in Europe can be fully appreciated only when we examine separately the record of each country in this great class during the years of the war. It will, therefore, be our en deavor to present briefly in this article the facts disclosed by studies of action and of tendency, so far as these can be ascertained to-day, in every one of the 20 Latin-American republics. We shall endeavor also to give prominence to things essential and of permanent value, and to show in a true perspective things accidental or transitory. The American republics making common cause with the United States and her allies will be mentioned first. Then those main taining neutrality— either strict neutrality or a friendly neutrality toward the United States— will be considered in their turn.
Cuba and Panama followed immediately the lead of the United States in her declaration that a state of war existed between the United States and Germany. Thus, on the day after that declaration, the Cuban Congress resolved that there existed also a state of war between Cuba and Germany. President Menocal, in his message to the Cuban Congress, reviewed the causes which brought about hostilities between the United States and Germany. He dwelt upon Germany's continuous violations of in ternational law and of the rights of neutrals, and said: °The Republic of Cuba must not be indifferent to this violation of the rights of peoples nor ignore the noble attitude of the United States. We are bound to that nation by sacred ties of gratitude and confraternity, and by a political treaty explicit and implied which creates between the two nations an understand Mg practically amounting to an alliance. This would require Cuba's co-operation at any ordi nary time, and all the more so now that the United States is defending principles of human liberty, of international justice, of honor and the safety of those free and independent na tions which are threatened in their most vital rights and interests?" On 16 Dec. 1917 Cuba declared war on Austria-Hungary. In like manner Panama's acknowledgment of the close political and friendly ties which bind it to the United States was both swift and spontaneous. It has been well said that, to all intents and purposes, Panama has been in a state of war with Germany since 7 April 1917. The Presi
dent of that republic in his proclamation of 9 April 1917 said: °Panama will lend its full and decided co-operation to the United States of America against any enemies that carry out or intend to carry out any hostile act against the territory of Panama or the Panama Canal or that should in any way affect or intend to affect the common interest of the two coun tries.* This official document was supple mented by a cablegram addressed to the Presi dent of the United States by the President of Panama, in which the latter said: °The Re public of Panama, whose future is so intimately identified with that of the Great American Democracy, will take upon itself, in this trial, the obligation concurrent with its conception of solidarity, and fully assumes on this occasion the responsibilities due to its obligations to ward the United On 10 Dec. 1917 Pan ama declared war on Austria-Hungary.
Bolivia practically reached a decision early in February 1917. The Bolivian Foreign Of fice, having been advised of the establishment of the submarine by Germany, re plied that the character of a maritime warfare involving offensive action of submarines against neutral vessels and persons, as well as the pro hibition of all neutral traffic within the zone described, constituted an absolute denial of the inherent right of neutral powers to trade and navigate; that in view of this abnormal and il legal situation the government of Bolivia had advised the United States that it was fully in accord with the stand taken by President Wil son, and. made common cause with the United States. On 13 April 1917 the German Minister was given his passports. The Bolivian Foreign Office stated that, inasmuch as Germany had carried out to all intents and purposes its threat against vessels and persons of neutral states, and in view of the fact that the steamer Tu bantio had been torpedoed in neutral Dutch waters, the Bolivian Minister to Berlin being on board, diplomatic relations between Bolivia and the German Empire were no longer possi ble. On 6 Aug. 1917 the Bolivian President, in his message to the Bolivian Congress, fully en dorsed the course adopted by the government of the United States in defense of the principles of humanity and justice.