8. Ought a statement to the like effect to be made to nations not
concerned in the quarrel?--This would, doubtless, be convenient, unless
the non-receipt by them of any notification of a "state of war," in
pursuance of the Convention, could be supposed to render such a
statement superfluous.

On the ambiguous character sometimes attaching to reprisals as now
practised, I may perhaps refer to an article in the _Law Quarterly
Review_ for 1903, entitled "War Sub Modo."

I am, Sir, your obedient servant,
T. E. HOLLAND.
Oxford, December 26 (1908).


The operations against Venezuela which were closed by the
protocol of February 13, 1903, had given rise to the
enunciation of the so-called "Drago doctrine," in a despatch,
addressed on December 29 of the preceding year, by the
Argentine Minister for Foreign Affairs to the Government of the
United States, which asserts that "public indebtedness cannot
justify armed intervention by a European Power, much less
material occupation by it of territory belonging to any
American nation." The reply of the United States declined to
carry the "Monroe doctrine" to this length, citing the passage
in President Roosevelt's message in which he says: "We do not
guarantee any State against punishment, if it misconducts
itself, provided such punishment does not take the form of the
acquisition of territory by any non-American Power."