Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1911-12-29
DECLARES RATIFICATION WOULD
PUT UNITED STATES IN
RIDICULOUS Poslr,oN.
CAN NOT De RATIFIED
FOLLOWING AeRoGArioN
Would 30 Inconsistent Considering
Resent Action Of Congress on Rus
4 elan Trsaty-Approvss That Action
-Aa&ifieatien Would Tell Asainst
pssas-contain Only Promises.


editorial on 1.-THE Russian Treaty.
Arbitration and Hypocrisy" by Theo-
dore Roosevelt, appears in the current
issue OF The Outlook:
= cordially approve the action TAX
en- by congress In abrogating the Rus
sian treaty. because men must vote
and act on the situation as it actually
confronts them; and in the actual
event congressman had but two alter
natives. namely, to abrogate the treaty.
or to submit to the continuance OF
conditions which have become intoler-
able to our, national self-respect, and
which represent a continuing wrong.
especially to American citizens of Jew
ish faith.
4 sttit believe that in so serious a
matter 1t would have been well first to
endeeyor to secure a decision by The
Hague court on the Interpretation Of
ths existing treaty. am confident that
such o decision would, Of necessity,
have been In our favor; and, If SO, it
would have enabled Russia to retire
from an untenable position with good
grace and no loss Of self-respect-an
OUJ8CI kIdl SuOulU always Uc uclu AL
view in dealing with any foreign nation
with which at any time we have diff
cuities: while II the decision as to the
Interpretation Of the clause In question
had been adverse to US, we would then
at once have abrogated the treaty. and
have been clearly right in so doing
This was the position held by that dis
tinguished diplomat, Mr.. Oscar Straus
I0,~A kSNI ln NV
either nation looking towards any other
method Of settling the matter than the
one actually adopted. Congress was
less the treaty were abrogated condi
tions would remain as they now are:
and. under the circumstances, congress
acted wisely and properly In declaring
for the abrogation.
An lnsonsistsnt Position.
But this action was taken while the
universal arbitration treaties are pend
ing In the senate. These treaties are
avowedly championed as being Of the
kind we are to enter into with all ma
tions, and as supplanting the existing
arbitration treaties which we have
with almost all nations Including RUS
sia a. we'll a. England and France.
: x
unamended, will explicitly promise. will
explicitly pledge the honor and good
faith Of the American nation, to arbi-
trate precisely such questions as that
which at this very moment we an
nounce that we will not endeavor to
arbjtrate in the case Of Russia Under
these circumstances, to ratify the gen.
eral arbitration treaties would put the
Ann tn I'D ~
culiarly contemplate hypocrisy, and
would rightly expose US to the derisioa
of all thinking mankind: for we wouio
put ourselves in the position Of making
sweeping and insincere promises, i'm
possible of performance, at the very
time when by our own actions we
showed that we would certainly not
keep such promises, nor translate them
into action. believe that we can nor
mally arbitrate the question Of the in
depreciation Of q treaty. even If only
as the preliminary to adopting the very
serious action Of denouncing such a
treaty But do not believe that
we can arbitrate, with the intention Of
abiding by the arbitration, such ques-
lions as the Monroe doctrine, the adj
mission Of Asiatic immigrants in mass,
OC lUe ISlOSdl ny luo SIdIS " pay OOLuSs
or many other similar matters. In
short. do not believe that we can af-
ford to arbitrate questions Of vital in
terest and national honor or questions
Of settled American governmental poll
icy.
Would Tell Against Peace.
Moreover, the attitude we are now
taking az regards the abrogation of the
Russian treaty shows beyond possible
ity Of doubt that if we were SO foolish
or 80 timid as to agree. as an abstract
matter, by general arbitration treaties.
to arbitrate such questions. we should
instantly repudiate the agreement
whenever q concrete case arose in
which any considerable number Of our
citizens took anlactive interest. Under
such circumstances to proceed with the
ratification Of the general arbitration
treaties unamendd would be not mere
~ farce. but farce played at the ex-
pense Of our reputation for national
good faith and SINCERITY. believe most