New-York tribune., 1910-03-23
HEAR TAFT ON PEACE
ARBITRATION LEAGUE
GIVES DINNER.
BernstOrf Says Germany is
scith United States for Open
Door n China.

President Taft was in a happy frame Of
mind al the dinner in his honor given last
night by the American Peace and Arbitra-
tion League al the Hotel Astor. This was
particularly 50 at the beginning of his
speech. which followed the opening address
% the president Of tho league. James b.
McCreay. former United States Senator
from Kentucky. who was the toastmaster.
one OF the significant remarks that won
approval came from the German Ambassa-
dor. Count J. ~. Won Be-nstorsf. He had
said that his country had not been at war
I'm forty years. but had been engaged in
military operations on a small scale on
several occasions. notably In China. Speak
ing Of the German troops. he said:
"On one occasion they fought shoulder to
shoulder with the troops of the United
States for the cause Of civilization In China.
And We are standing shoulder 20 shoulder
/ with the United states now FOR the open
I door in China"
The President dropped his jOcular man
ner when. with telling earnestness. he
| pleaded for international arbitration and
I Tor the strengthening Of the federal gov
ernment i'm the power 20 maintain and
keep treaties with foreign nations involving
the safety Of their citizens i'm this country.
Taft on Naval Programme.
In outlining the naval programme. which
he said he hoped might be continued until
the completion OF the Panama Canal so
that the naval forces might he doubled by
reason Of the connection between the two
coasts. and declaring that then would be
the time 10 stop and think whether it should
go further. ne met with quick and pro-
lOnged applause. And when he said with
slow deliheration that ne regretted that the
expense of war had greater weight i'm oh
tanning peace than the expense Of lives
;here was a sympathetic hush.
IL was while jesting about remarks made
by the POSTMASTER that the President re-
ferred 10 the Monroe Doctrine as far from
having been a means 10 peace. This coun-
Try had been kept out Of trouble while in
sisting upon The Observance OF the doc
trine because "the Lord looks after chill
dren. drunken men and the United States
he said. ana there was prolonged laughter
and applause.
The President said that he did not alto
gether beueve in excluding questions Of
national homer from the deliberations Of
courts of arbitration, but the German Am
bassador. who followed him. did not agree
with him, saying;
'The German government and people
heartily sympathize with the idea of arbi-
tratipn which does not involve national
honor and vital national interests
Germany Desires Peace.
Az an excuse for the great army and
the naval programme i'm Germany Count
won Pcrnstorf gave the desire for peace.
II was The explanation an along the line,
and The German Ambassador also struck
. a responsive chord when he said IN fur
ther explanation.
we wish 20 mind our own business, and
go not wish 90 be disturbed in it
The great dinner had an inspiring set
ting. Pax WAS the word outlined with
red white ana blue electric lights ON the
facade of the second gallery, amid profuse
decorations of peace flags of all nations.
Pax was the word i'm gilt letters on
Anericsin flags amid the bunting drapeG
erom the galleries. Above the platform
where the speakers sat was am American
eagle. with wings far stretched. There
were nearly as many women as men pres
ont and the great banquet hail vas aglow
with color and life.
President McCreary introduced the Pres.-
dent after he had outlined the purpose OF
the League and then proposed a toast 10
the chief Executive. President Taft said.
] 90 not want 10 seem Inconsistent IN
4 sle-hil-- - tfnpAaucaltN here IN favor ut
peace hy arbitration and iII using every ef-
/ fort tLat can bring 90 bear ou Congress
I TO have two more hattcships this year. 1
I am hopeful that we may continue with
l that .ntll the Panama Canai Is constructed.
/ 20 ti-a, then our naval forces shall be
J doubled nF reason uf the connection be
/ tween fhc two coasts. and then We can
Stot ah1 think whether We wish 90 90
further Perhaps by that time there shall
. De- adopted a means Of reducing armament
1 The expense of armament Is working to-
ward peace. The expense Of war. ! am
solTN 20 say ls having greater weight in
securing peace than the expense of lives
1 A nation does not lightly enter upon war
/ now. 'and Tor two reasons
] First. because the expense Is so great
Z that j. j. llk ely 10 lead her To- bankruptcy
even II she wins. and. second. that If she
/ or whatever il may Doe that is i'm control Of
1 the government rs likely to 20 down under
/ the humiliation ~ that defeat an the hands
] of Ter own people These two things are
] working in a healthful way toward pace
] Now, ~ We have permanent court of
arbitration. one 20 which we can easily re-
] fer all questions, the opportunity is likely
I 10 be seized upon certainly To- be seized
1 upon by that country that is IN the con-
test 10 follow. II war Is 10 follow. not quite
4 prepared, and SO, by its demanding or pro-
7 posing "A reference 10 the court il will uuf
the other country IN the attitude Of desir-
tnE war, an attitude that j think no cOun-
occupy before the world
A resort becomes more and more fre-
Cuent 10 this permanent court questions
. which can Dee submitted in the view M
tie nations viii grow broader and broader
F in their scope } have noticed executions
in our arbitration treaties. as To reference
Of questions 81 honor, Of national honor
F 90 courts or arbitration. Personally I DO
. not see any more reason why matters az
4 national honor should not be referred to "A
court of arbitration amy more than fpattsrs
. ~ property or matters of individual pre-
pretorsAlp-
know that is so.uS further than mos,
men are willing Co -u. buf among men ve
have 10 submit difference even III tbr,- i'm
4 Kolvc honor, II we obey the law 10 the
court or let thtm Eo undecided ~ is true
I thaf our courts can enforce the law and a.
between nations there Is no court with "A
sheriff or marshal that can enforc. the
law. But , Do not see WHY 0uestious III
honor may not be- submitted To "a tribunal
supposed 20 be- composed of men of houor
who understand questions of national
1 honor as W-l as any other question of
/ difference arislus between nations.
President in JOeose Mood.
At. McCreary had said that tie Monroe
/ Doctrine had worked Tor peace President
TAFT did not agr,e with nim. lie saiI jo-
cose!y. amid great laughter:
] think fl has come pretty near getting
l- into trouble number of times But W9