The Detroit times., 1909-05-07
SMALL NAVY IS
BIC HANDICAP
Ex-President Declares U. S. Is
Powerless to Enforce immigration
Laws Without Large Navy.

NEW YORK, May Eve have
the right to say what immigrants shall
come to ctr shores. declares former
President Theodore Roosevelt i'm an
article in the current Outlook. but
we are powerless ia enforce this right
against any nation that chooses To dis
regard our wishes, unless we continue
TO build up and maintain first.ciass
lighting navy
This, the first OF the signed articles
prepared by the former president on
current political topics. is character.
istic Roosevelt document discussing at
length the developments IN the Japan.
csc question. Both sides are given,
while incorporated in the whole Is n
powerful plea for a greater navy. In
part the former president says;
There are certain elementary prin-
cipies all OF which should be kept in
view IL nation wishes TO act Justly
both by itself and others. IL must in
sist upon what is necessary for its
own healthy life. and this even nj the
cost OF a possible clash; but this III.
sistence upon what is due TO itself
should always be accompanied by all
possible courtesy TO and fair dealing
with others
These are the principles upon
which the people of the United States
should act as regards the question OF
immigration OF the Japanese into this
country The Japanese are a highly
civilized people OF extraordinary mill
tary, artistic ana industrial develop
ment; they are proud, warlike and
sensitive. believe that our people
have what | personally certainly have.
a profound and hearty admiration for
them. But this admiration and re-
spect Is accompanied by the firm CON
viction that IL is not for the advantage
OF either people that emigrants from
either country should settle in mass
in the other country.
Japan would certainly object 10 the
incoming or masses of American
farmers, laborers and small traders;
indeed the Japanese would object 10
this at least as strongly as the men of
the Pacific coast and Rocky mountains
object TO the incoming in mass of
Japanese workmen. agricultural labor
ers and men engaged in small trades.
The Japanese certainly object 10
Americans acquiring land in Japan at
least as much as the Americans OF the
far western states object 10 the Japan
csc acquiring land on our soil. The
Americans who go 10 Japan and the
Japanese who come to America should
be OF the same general class-that is.
they should be travellers. students,
teachers. scientific investigators, men
engaged in international business. men
sojourning In the land for pleasure or
study.
THE fact that all really patriotic
and far-sighted Americans insist that
hand in hand with a policy or good
viii toward foreign nations. should go
the policy OF upbuilding our navy is
often interpreted by wellmeaning bat
short sighted men as being a threat
towards other nations. or as icing
provocative OF war or the two as
sumptions the first is utterly unwar-
ranted and the second the direct re-
verse OF the truth We have the right
TO say. for instance. what immigrants
shall come TO our own shores but we
are powerless To enforce this right
against any nation that chooses to
disregard our wishes. unless We con-
Itinue 10 build up and maintain first
class fighting navy