surely not a constitutional government) by preventing its being thrown out of office either by revolution or by free and fair elections.
To undertake to see that elections are free and air means a very thoroughgoing intervention into the affairs of those countries and virtually the conducting of their elections. do not feel that we have any warrant to do so hence we should not have a blanket policy of non recognition of a revolutionary government.
On the other hand a polioy that would encourage revolutions would be bad.
We could perhaps take a somewhat cynical view of the situation and back any strong man who comes in on the theory that a dictator will preserve peace and order as Diaz did in Mexico for so many years and as Gomez is now doing in Venezuela and so long as they respect American rights and interests give them our unqualified backing.
The trouble is that the strong man must eventually disappear from the scene and unless there is a successor capable of filling his position the fall is likely to be the greater.
Furthermore American and other foreign capital will have been attracted to the country in increasing extent in view of the relatively long period of peace and tranquillity so that the chances of damage to our interests will be thereby increased.
If a strong man is in office think we should by all means be friendly to him and if he continues in