New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-09-09
OPPOSES JOINT RESOLUTION
Writer Says Peace Treaties Alone
Would Be Far Stronger.

To the Editor OF The Tribune.
Cir. read the communication or Harry
Chase in your issue of September reiatine
N the peace or arbitration treaties penang
r., the limited States Senate. Evidently the
writer IL a man Of peace and believes III
tbe;r object. In fact no one has yet ap-
reared 10 oppose them. No criticism that
have vet read is strong either In law or
morals The point made by the "eha'e
committee is not statesmanlike. II Senator
Lodge were q bitter anti-admlhistratioi'
Democrat or an Observation-Disclosures hepup-
lean his conduct could be accounted ioi'
but for him to give voice to any anu-ad-
minlstration sentiments Is surely unac-
countabie.
No one has yet undertaken to prove tnat
IN law the voice of one administration vi
the action Of one Congress controls any OF
its successors Mr. Chase's suggestion OF
Joint resolution Of both houses OF congress
would have no more. In fact not SO srea',
binding force for future use than "ouiu
favorable action on the pending treaties
Roth would have simply moral force ana
mower for use at critical time should any
such arise. While this is true the fact re-
mains that these treaties would have Iar
greater force and power for arbitration and
neace than a joint resolution possibly could
have
II does not appear that any nation or
government is disposed to make war upon
the United States, but should any other
government OF equal power assume such au
attitude public sentiment would insist upon
the administration using every other re-
source as set forth in these treaties heiore
accepting such a challenge. Does anybody
doubt that I'm such an emergency THESE
treaties are to be preferred TO the proposed
Joint resolution? To ask this question Is TO
answer IT, Mr.. Chase will not take issue
with this conclusion.
One can we'll picture belligerent spir-
rted President who might be tempted 10
give free vein to his spirit before Congress
could act and so Involve us to~so compro-
missing an extent as to require us 10 huinii-
late ourselves In order to oe free to act hut
70, the curbing effect OF such a policy as
IS required by these treaties. A Joint reso-
,ution would contain no terms Of procedure.
Let us take no such chances.
The American people are not belligerent
nor aggressive We are even willing that
foreign governments should send warships
ard land soldiers in South America to col
lect debts due them from such governments
but they must not annex any territory.
Every first class power abroad recognizes
this principle as just to ourselves. But Tor
~ we sometimes fear that Germany would
be disposed TO annex some land In south
America. No one seriously controverts the
so-called Monroe Doctrine, which makes Tor
neaca in and for South America. Public
sentiment does not as yet seriously rebel
against the large expenditures of money for
the strongest battleships. as means OF
national defence only but 1t would para
I'VE the arm Of any administration which
would use these monsters for any other
purpose. A strong navy begets peace.
If treaties containing Identical terms
which President Taft seeks to have adopted
ty the Senate with Great Britain and
France were now in force between Great
Britain. France. Germany, Russia, Italy
and Spain the public could rest assured
there would now be no African war cloud
In the sky. The existence OF such treaty,
with such a spirit. could not fail to work
out peaceful solution Of every conflicting
interest. 1t would be defensive alliance
which would veto every aggressive force
abroad.
An International treaty OF like character
between every strong government In Eu-
rome. Asia and America would In fact be
worlds peace pact which would mea not
only international peace but prosperity and
plenty Be 1t so. J. L. MITCHELL.
Rroollyn. Sept 7, 1911