 In the early 20th century , Venezuela was receiving messages from Britain and Germany about " Acts of violence against the liberty of British subjects and the massive capture of British vessels " who were from the UK and the acts of Venezuelan initiative to pay off long @-@ standing debts . After British and German forces took naval action with a blockade on Venezuela ( 1902 – 1903 ) , Roosevelt denounced the blockade . The blockade began the basis of the Roosevelt Corollary to the Monroe doctrine . Though he had mentioned the basis of his idea beforehand in private letters , he officially announced the corollary in 1904 , stating that he only wanted the " other republics on this continent " to be " happy and prosperous " . For that goal to be met , the corollary required that they " maintain order within their borders and behave with a just obligation toward outsiders " . 
