The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-12-18
PRESIDENTS SPEECH
AT PEACE BANQUET

re near great utdi nONdudNS VI
movements and societies and legislative
resolutions in favor OF international peace,
and ] assume that no one would wish TO
be put in the position of denying that
peace contributes greatly TO the happiness
Of mankind, or OF advocating war as an
institution to be fostered in and of it.
self
To say that one is in favor Of peace
is not much more startling than to say
that enc is in favor OF honesty. in favor
of virtue, in favor of good and opposed
TO evil That from whith the world can
derive the most benefit is a practical
suggestion leading TO more permanent
peace
Many have thought that this could be
brought about by an agreement among
the powers TO disarn, and some sort of
a convention by which the race to bank
ruptcy in the maintenance OF great
armies and the construction of great
naves might cease, and a gradual dis
armament follow, Future events may
Justify some different conclusion, but
movements in the past along this line
have not been fruitful of practical re-
suits. Bankruptcy and the burdensome
weight Of debt involved in continued ar
mament may bring about a change in
the present national tendencies
Meantime, however, ] am strongly con-
WINGED that the best method of ultimately
securing disarmament is the establish
ment Of an international court and the
development OF code OF international
equity which nations viii recognize as az
lording a better method OF settling inter-
national controversies than war. We
must have some method OF settling issues
between nations. and il we do not have
arbitration. We shall have war
OF course the awful results of war, with
its modern armaments and frightfu cost
OF life and treasure, and its inevitable
shaking Of dynasties and governments.
seem 10 have made nations more chary
Of resort TO the sword than ever before
and the present. therefore, because OF
this, would seem to be an excellent time
for pressing the substitution of courts
for force.
! am glad to come here and to give my
voice IN favor. of the establishment Of a
permanent international court. / sin
eerely hope that the negotiations which
Secretary Knox has initiated in favor OF
an International prize court. after the es-
Enlistment of that court, will involve the
enlargement Of that court into a general
arbitral court for International matters
IL is quite likely that the provisions OF
the constitution OF the arbtral court
Will have to be different somewhat from
those that govern the selection of mem
bers Of the prize court: but I am glad
TO think that the two movements are In
the same direction and are both likely to
be successful
What teaches nations and peoples the
possibility of permanent peace is the
actual settlement Of controversies by
courts Of arbitration. The settlement OF
the Alabama controversy by the Geneva
arbitration. the settlement OF the seals
controversy by the Paris tribunal. the
settlement Of the Newfoundland fisheries
controversy by The Hague tribunal, are
three great substantial steps toward
permanent peace, three facts accom-
piiShed that have done more for the
cause than anything Else in history
II now We can negotiate and nut
through positive agreement with some
great nation 10 abide the adjudication
OF an International arbitral court in
every issue which cannot be settled by
negotiation, no matter what IL involves.
neither honor territory, or money we
shall have made long step forward Nv
demonstrating that It is possible for two
nations at least 10 establish as between
them the same system OF due process
or law thar exists between individuals
under a government
II seems to be the view OF MANY that
It is Inconsistent for those of US who
advocate any kind Of preparation for
war, or any maintenance of armed force
or toruhcation, 10 raise our voices for
peaceful means Of settling international
controversies. But / think this view
Is quite unjust and IS not practical
VIC only recognize existing conditions.
and know that we have not reached A
point where war is impossible or out OF
the question, and do not believe that
the point has been reached in which all
nations are so constituted that they NAV
not at times violate their national OBJ
legations.
Take thus the question of the Panama
Canal We have a property which.
when completed. will be worth $500. :
@0-at least it will have cost us that
1t has been built not alone to further
the cause Of the worlds commerce, but
also to bring our eastern and western
seaboards closer together, and TO secure
us the military benefit enabling our
nava; fleet to pass quickly from one
ocean 10 the other
Now, the works Of the canal are of
such a character that a war vessel
might easily put the canal out OF COM
mission. We arc authorized to police
the canal and protect it. and We have