The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram., 1910-04-30
Tells International Sharps that
He Should Protect all
Foreigners.
AN AUDIENCE YESTERDAY
Ne SAYS EXECUTIVE OUGHT TO
be ABLE TO ENFORCE PRoMis-
Es AND NOT LEAVE II TO THE
STATE OFFICERS.

Washington, April 30.-President
Taft, addressing the members of the
American Society Of International
Law who had called upon him yester-
day to pay their respects, said that
the vindication OF the rights of for
eigners which have been violated on
American soil could be adjusted di-
rectly by the Chief Executive instead
cf the President being obliged to re-
fer those who complain of such
breaches OF American national obliga-
tions to Governors of states and Coun-
ty Prosecutors.
The President, in his remarks to the
lawyers. said:
II am very much honored by your
coming here: very glad to welcome
you here; glad to know that you have
an opportunity to devote this time to
an avocation instead of a vocation.
President 10 Interested.
"The remarks of Mr.. Root last night
we're exceedingly interesting to those
OF us, chiefly Mr.. Knox, who are at
tempting to bring about something
practical In the way Of tribunal
which shall invite submission by ar
bitratiOn.
sometimes q means of inducing its
use. am personally little more in
terested In another kind OF an instru
ment that call to your attention as
international lawyers, looking at II
from the standpoint Of American in
ternational lawyers. and that is Con
gress should put in the hands of the
Executive the means by which we car
perform our national obligations.
I'VE should not be obliged to refer
those who complain OF a breach ol
those obligations to Governors ol
states and County Prosecutors to take
UP the procedure of vindicating the
rights OF aliens which have been vic
lated on American soil.
Must Enforce Promises.
Il don't think that any one, however
Il will not say extreme-but however
strong his view of the necessity of thu
preservation OF state rights under thu
Federal Constitution, will deny tn,
power OF the Government to defent
and protect and provide procedure fo
enforcing the rights that are given I,
aliens under treaties made by tn,
Government OF the United States.
Therefore. 1t Is no excuse, it seems
to me. to any one who is a supporte
OF the Federal Constitution at all t,
say that he Is in favor Of a strict cor
structiOn Of that constitution and tn
preservation of state rights in orde
to defend his refusal to give to tn
Central Government the means OF en-
forcing It's own promises.
III It has right to make promise
think 1t has a right to fulfill then
or at least ought to have power t
fulfill them.
Thanks Them for Coming.
II cannot suppose that the Feders
Constitution was drawn by men VIII
proposed to put in the hands OF on
set Of authorities the power to prom
ise and then withhold from them tn
means of fulfilling them.
Nov. gentlemen. that Is the thin
that rushes into my mind the minut
see international lawyers because
affects the international responsible
ties that am, for the time being, ha,
ing to meet.
II thank you for coming here.
hope that your visit to the Capitol wi
result in something tangible in th
way OF recommendations that will b
followed.
Il congratulate you on coming to
city like Washington at the time I
It's greatest beauty to give you ne
inspiration for the support Of the NJ
tional Government"