The Practice of the United States in Recognizing Revolutionary and Coup d'Etat Governments

In this brief study it cannot be hoped to do more than touch the real principles underlying the attitude of the United States government in deciding the question of the recognition of revolutionary and coup d'etat governments. Only an exhaustive examination of all available documentary evidence would reveal the true causes in many cases. Particularly is this true in such controversial instances as the case of Mexico in 1912-16 and Panama in 1903. United States Foreign Relations has been used almost entirely for the facts in the cases cited, although I am aware that many of the true facts are never revealed in the official correspondence.There are some instances involving American recognition which have not been mentioned in this study. Most of these cases have been given a cursory glance at least, in order to make certain that no outstanding additional principle escaped notice. The list of cases involving the question of recognition may be incomplete. It does, however, include every instance involving a decision in regard to United States recognition encountered in the perusal of material for this study.