New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1909-02-28
Impetus Given By the President to the Cause OF Universe
Peace, Chiefly by the Promotion of International
Arbitration. of Greatest Value to
World at Large.

halt with the meeting Of the conferTees. When
an agreement seemed hopeless. by direct ap-
peal to the emperors of Russia and Japan. ana
by the enlistment of the assistance OF the Elm
peror Of Germany. M. Roosevelt brought about
an agreement which the peace ENJOYS were
somewhat loath to accept, but which was die
tated by their respective sovereigns on the ao-
vice of the President Of the United States: ana
SO important was this contribution to peace re-
garded by the nations of Europe that on MI
Roosevelt was conferred the Nobel peace prize
in the following year
When Mr.. Roosevelt assumed the reins OF gov
eminent he inherited the ancient controversy
over the rights of American fishermen in New
foundland and Canadian waters. which dated
almost from the Treaty of 1918. Once more he
demonstrated his faith IN arbitration, and IN
1907, through negotiations conducted in London
he caused the signing Of protocol providing
that the problem be submitted to the Hague for
arbitration. The compromis defining the scope
of the arbitration has just been ratified by the
Senate
From time immemorial Central America has
been the scene Of warfare and strife among
the several small republics which control that
territory. Determined. If possible, to end this
situation. President Roosevelt invited the rep
resentatives of the five republics to an inter
national peace conference in Washington, and In
December, 1907, the conference met and estab-
Ished joint arbitral tribunal, which already has
been successful fla averting war. and which
gives promise Of making permanent the peace
which now regns in that part Of the continent
PACIFICATORY FOREIGN RELATIONS.
Theodore Roosevelt has done more TO pro-
mote the peace Of the world than any other
man In the history OF nations" declared William
H. Taft on many occasions during the recent
campaign. a declaration which always elected
the widest applause and which is borne out
by the entire history of Mr. Roosevelt's admin
istration- In addition to his promotion of the
cause Of arbitration, the entire conduct Of the
relations Of the United States with other ma
tions has been pacihcatory in tone This is
strikingly illustrated IN the Far East.
At the beginning Of the Russo-Japanese War
the United States directed to all the great pow
ers diplomatic note by which it was sought TO
commit them TO the preservation Of the admin
istratiye entity of China, which the rapacity
of some nations had threatened with spolation.
Most Of the powers responded cordially. and
thus were established the most cordial relations
with the Chinese Empire, relations which went
far TO Offset the constituencies which had result
ed from the necessary exclusion Of Chinese Ia
borers from the United States A year ago Mr..
Roosevelt created another demand on the graft
tude Of China by voluntarily remitting some
thing over S10O0O00O indemnity due the United
States as a result of the joint action of the
powers following the Boxer outbreak at Picking;
and during the last year Of his administration
he has added one more obligation on the part
Of China by inducing Japan. through the
medium OF the recently exchanged diplomatic
notes. TO subscribe to the preservation of China's
territorial and administrative integrity.
ROOSEVELT AND JAPAN.
The history Of the relations Of the United
States and Japan during the last eight years
furnishes a striking example Of the firm yet
conciliatory methods Of the Roosevelt admins
traton. Mr.. Roosevelt by the exercise OF his
good Offices in bringing to end the conflict
with Russia, won the confidence and regard OF
the japanese administration. and thus paved
the way for the settlement OF the exceptionally
difficult problem presented by the rapidly in
creasing influx Of japanese laborers to this
country. 4 rapidly growing japanese popula-
ton, the presence of Japanese youths in their
schools and the competition of japanese labor
ers in their fields and factories had aroused
bitter antagonism in California. while their VIC
tory In the conflict with Russia had rendered
the Japanese proud and representative. The
action Of the San Francisco School Board in
excluding Japanese pupils from the city schools
menaCeQ the friendly reldllOnS OF the TWO
tions and the President was called upon to eX-
ercise the utmost diplomacy to avert serious
friction. By inducing the San Francisco au-
thorities TO rescind their order and then taking
diplomatic steps to reduce Japanese immigra-
ton he averted the conflict. Long and delicate
negotiations with Japan have now resulted in
reducing the number Of japanese immigrants
to minimum-the number coming to this coun-
try is now less than the number returning
and once more hostile legislation. this time
threatened by the California Legislature, has
been averted- The problem still remains, but
giant strides have been taken toward its solu-
ton by the reduction Of immigration.
WON GERMANY'S FRIENDSHIP.
President Roosevelt inherited relations with
Germany which were rnarred by ulisunderstand-
ing and distrust growing cut of the Manila
Bay incident, the somewhat precipitate pur-
chase by Germany Of the Caroline and the La
drone islands and the unpleasant ending Of the
Joint control OF Samoa Germany, dissatisfied
with the tariff regulations of this country, con-
templated assessing a practically prohibitive
duty on imports from the United States and
there was a serious lack OF cordially between
the two nations By persistent attention to
apparently trivial yet all important, details OF
diplomacy this feeling has been entirely dis
sipated- The first step taken by the Roosevelt