The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-12-30
Former President De-
nounces Pending Arbi-
tration Measures.
DRAWN IN VAGUE,
GENERAL T E MS
Course Toward Russia Shows
Insincerity of Senate if 1t Con-
firms Taft Proposal-Declares
Nation Should Behave in
straightforward Manner on
International Relations.

New York. December 2e.-The follow
Ing editorial on The Russian Treaty.
Arbitration and Hypocrisy" by The
odore Roosevelt. appears in tho cur
rent Issue of the Outlook:
Il cordially approve the action taken
BY Congress in abrogatins the Russian
treaty, because men must vote and act
on the situation as 1t actually confronts
thom. and in the actual event Con-
Rressmen had but two alternatives.
namely. to abrogate The treaty or to
Submit TO the continuance OF conditions
which have become intolerable to our
national self-respect, and which repre-.
cont continuing wrong, especially to
American citizens OF Jewish faith.
atill believe that in so serious q
matter It would have hcen we'll first
TO endeavor to secure q decision BY Tho
Hague Court on the Interpretation OF
the existing treaty. am confident that
suoh decision would. Of necessity,
have been In our favor. and II So II
would have enabled Russia TO retire
from an untenable position with good
grace and no loss OF self-respect-an
object that should always be held IN
view in dealing with any foreign ma
tiCn with which at any time we have
dihculttes; while II the decision as to
tho Interpretation OF the clause In
question had been adverse TO US, we
would then at once have abrogatcd the
'reaty and have been clearly right
IN 80 doing, This was the position
held BY that distinguished diplomat.
Mr.. Oscar Straus. But no movement
lad been made by either nation looking
towards any other method of settling
the matter than the one actually
adopted Congress was confronted by
the simple fact that Unless the treaty
were ahrogated conditions would re-
main as they now are. and under the
circumstances Congress acted wisely
md properly In declaring for the abro-
CATION.
lnsinccrc Promises.
nut this action was taken while the
universal arbitration treaties are pcnd-
ing in the Senate. These treaties are
aNowcdly championed al being OF the
kind We are TO enter into with all ma
lions and s .suppianting the existing
arbitration treaties which we have with
almost all nations including Russia as
We'll as England and France. These
treaties, II ratified by the Senate una
mended. will explicitly promise, will
explicitly pledge. the honor and good
faith of the American nation 10 arbi-
irate precisely such questions MS that
which at this very moment we an
nounce that NO will not endeavor to
aroitrate In the case OF Russia. Under
these circumstances. TO ratify the gen
oral arbitration treaties would put the
American people in an attitude of pccu-
larry contemplate hypocrisy and
would rightly expose us TO the derision
of all thinking mankind, for we should
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
hof
Keep such promises nor translate them
into action. believe that we can nor
mally arbitrate the question OF the
Interpretation OF treaty, even if only
ms the preliminary to adopting the
very serious action of denouncins such
treaty. But do not believe that we
can arbitrate. with the intention or
abiding by the arbitration, such qucs-
lions al treating all our citizens alike,
without regard to their creed, in the
matter of passports. or such questions
as the Monroe Doctrine, the admission
of Asiatic immigrants in mass, or the
refusal by the States to pay bonds. or
many other similar matters. In short,
I do not believe that we can AFFORD TO
aroitrate questions of Vital interest and
national honor or questions Of settled
American governmental policy.
Opposes Treaties.
Moreover, the attitude we arc now
taking as regards the nbrogation OF
the Russian treaty shows beyond pos
ability OF doubt that IL we were so
foolish Or SO timid as to agree, as an
abstract matter. by general arbitra-
tion treaties. to erbitratc such uues.
tions. we should instantly rcpudiat lie
tho agreement whenever a concrete
case arose In which any considcra-
able number of our citizens took an
active interest. Under such circum-
stances to proceed with tho ratifca-
ton OF the general arbitration treaties
unamended would be not merely n
farce. but farce played at the ex-
pcnse OF our reputation for national
good faith and sincerity I believe
most earnestly In peace, and In taking
any step FOR arbitration which viii
genuinely tell In favor of peace; and
oppose these treaties because, IL un-
amended, they would tell against peace
and would put us as nation in an
attitude of unctuoue and odious hy-
pocrisy. Both the Lodge and the Root
amendments should be adopted; tho
treaties would then cease to BIO detrI-
mental to our national honor and In
terest, and tholding in Wow the alb
rogation of tho Russian treaty. would
be relieved from the present faint of
evident insncerity, although even
then they Would represent n very
small advance over our present POSI-
ton.
TT is possible with sincerity and
patriotism to favor the arbitration
treaties (althoueh I personally dis
agree with this view). 1t Is possible
with sincerity and patriotism to op-
pose the arbitration treaties. But 1t
is neither. sincere nor patriotic to make
believe to support the principle OF
arbitration IN general, and to try to
get the country TO commit itself to this