The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-05-04
Taft Says the United States Does Not Desire
 Expansion
SUSPICION FINDERS
 PEACE ADVANCES
Gibbons, Dickinson, Gore, Carnegie and Other Notable Peace Ad- vocates Present-British-
 American Treaty


 his speech at the opening of the Third National Peace congress today declared the United States would keep hands ] off and not seek to extend its domain or to acquire foreign territory. The President made no mention specifically of Mexico, but by what he said 1t seemed that the troubled situation there :. and the suspicion in the South Ameri- can republics as to the intention Of this nation in regard to its southern neigh bors had inspired him.
 The President had been speaking or the recurrence of internal disturbances in countries not so well able as the United States to maintain order and peace and had said that 1t was incum- bent upon the great nations of this hemisphere to exercise their kindly and peaceful influence as much as possi- ble."
 aone of the difficulties that the Uni ted States finds is the natural suspi- cions that the countries engaged have of the motives which the United States has in rendering it's good offices, con tinued the President. Assertion Of good faith helps but little where the suspicion is real and yet like to avail myself of an opportunity In such pres ence as this to assert that there IS not in the whole length and breadth or the United States among its people any de- sire for territorial aggrandizment ana that its people as a whole will not per init Is government, If it would, to take any steps in respect to foreign peopls, looking to a forclble extension of our . political power.
 Want No More Wars
 We have had wars and we know what they are. We know what respon- abilities they entail the burdens and losses and horrors, and we would nave none of them. We have magnificent domain of our own in which we are at tempting to work out and show to the world success in popular government and we need no more territory in which to show this. But we have attaineo great prosperity and great power we | have become a powerful member or 1 the community of nations in which we ] live. and there is therefore thrust upon us necessarily a care and responsibility foa tie peace of the world In our neighborhood and burden of helping those nations that cannot help them selves, if we may do that peacefully and effectively"
 The President spoke to several thous- and persons in the Lyric theatre. Car dinal Gibbons, Secretary of War DICK inson Senator Gore or Oklahoma ana Andrew Carnegie and more than dozen other men prominent in the movement for world peace sat on the platform with the President Cardinal Gibbons and Hamilton Holt. president of the conference. who spoke before the President voiced the opinion that the negotiations of the proposed arpl- tration treaty between the united States and Great Britain would mark the greatest step toward universal peace that the world has ever seen
 "An arbitration treaty between .wo great nations of the world said the President, would be a very import ant step in securing the peace or the world I do not claim any patent TOT a new discovery in that suggestion pe- cause have no doubt that it has often been made before. If such an arpitra- tion treaty can be concluded have no doubt that an important step will have been taken but. 1t will not bring an end of war 1t will be step only and we must not defeat our purposes py charging the expectation of the world as to what Is to happen and then dis appointing it,
 We Are Not in Heaven
 eve must realize that we are deal- ing with a world that is fallible and full of weakness. with somewhat of wickedness in 1t and that the reforms that are worth having are brought about little by little and not by one blow. I think that we are likely to make more progress If we express our hope with moderation and realize the difficulties that are to be overcome than If we proclaim that we have opened the gate to eternal peace with one key and within one year."
 The President was particularly inter- Asted in a speech by Dr. J. A.. Mac Donald, editor of the Toronto, Can, Globe. a warm advocate of reciprocity. of that arbitration between your coun try and England is ratified" said pr. MacDonald, "the name of William How ard Taft will be remembered in world history so long as man loves peace"
 President Taft returned to Washing ton immediately after the meeting.
 The speakers who precede MT. Taft, Cardinal Gibbons and Hamilton Holt, of New York, president of the con 9ress. voiced the opinion that the prop osition of an arbitration between the United States and Great Brltaln was the greatest forward step toward uni- versal peace ever taken. a
 The President expressed the belief that all who understood the situation are agreed that an arbitration treaty between the United States and Great Britain would only be a step in the di- rection of universal peace. But" said the President. "it is a step."
 The President declared. he did not wish to discuss specifically at this time the proposed treaty. with Englan1, while 1t was still in the process of ne- gotiatton, but in the peace societies that txist throughout the country tn 0 President found subject upon which he could talk without treading on ground that might be Automatically dangerous.
 In the consolidation of the peace so : cieties, the Presidegt thought. lay one means to the end which were all seek ing. A.
 President, was introduced as the "dreadnought' of paace."
 eenor Carabajal was introduced to Francisco Madero, Sr., early today at breakfast in a local hotel and other mem bers of the Madero family were later presented to him. Judge Carabajal was asked this morning by an Associated Press representative what he believed were the prospects for peace.
 Peace Prospects Bright
 .srhey are very bright" he said. ssDo you carry proposals to be made to