Omaha daily bee., 1911-12-31
LETTER REVEALS
COLONEL'S IDEAS
Refused Invitation to Peace Banquet
Because Was Not Sure of Its
Purpose.
TREATIES HAVE WEAK POINTS
He Says I'm Their Present Form They
Are Hostile to the Honor and
Interests of the Ameri-
can People.


NEW YORK, Dec. SO.-Why Theodore
Roosevelt will not attend the banquet to-
night OF the citizens peace committee
with President Taft as guest Of honor
WAS made public in detail today in cor
respondence between Mr.. Roosevelt and
Millard J. Bloomer, executive secretary
of the committee. There are several let
ters from the former president In the
correspondence, the principal one of
which was written on December and Is
IN line with Mr.. Roosevelt's editorial in
the current number of the outlook.
II cannot permit the use of my name
for that citizens peace banquet" the LETT
ter reads, ''siKply because / do not
know what that banquet is for II II Is
meant to overawe the senate and force
that body against it's conscience TO sup
port tina nhalnened treaties which the
senate committee on foreign relations
has shown by unanswefabIc argument 70
be hostile to the honor and interest oe
the American people, then 1 am not In
sympathy, with you. For instance, II
you propose to support the arbitration
treaties then think that you are merely
wrong. but that you are engaged in what
is essentially an unworthy, and, however
unconsciously, a hypocritical move against
the interest of peace and against the
honor and interest of the United States
and civilization. II you intend TO support
these treaties, however, with the amend
ments introduced by Senators Root and
Lodge, then you are all right because
you are supporting what 10 not very
important but still sincere effort to
mike things a little better"
Treaties SHOULD BE Amended.
Mr.. Roosevelt then reiterates what he
said yesterday In his editorial that
"hyprocisy never pays" and detailed his
Views why the unamended treaties should
not be supported. Among the subjects
which Mr.. Roosevelt said he believed
should not be arbitrated was the Monroe
doctrine, state bond question, the right
OF America to abrogate the Russian
treaty of 1892 and the question OF allowing
unlimited Aslatic immigration to the
United States.
Mr.. Roosevelt's letter then continues:
Now IL you do not believe that the
questions 1 have named should be arbl.
trated. then you occupy an improper aud,
from the national standpoint, dishonor-
able position, II you desire to SEQ these
treaties ratified without amendment. OF
course, II you do believe in arbitrating
all questions OF national honor and In
terest. including the Monroe doctrine,
the Jewish passport question, the i'm
migration of Asiatics and the question
of the state bonds, then you are justified
IN wishing to pass the unamended
treaties; although / think that in such
case you will occupy a very foolish and
unpatriotic position. But II you do not
believe in arbitrating these and similar
matters then you occupy a wholly In
defenesible position In asking that we
pass I'm unamended form treaties which
unquestiopably pledge up as nation to
! arbitrate them"
Received Letter from Roosevelt.
Mr.. Bloomer replied to this letter on
December 1S, stating that the form Of
invitation TO the banquet had been
changed so as not to include the ratifica-
ton OF the proposed treaties, adding that
| the banquet. in his opinion, should be a
demonstration for a broad, honest peace
movement. To this Colonel Roosevelt
replied, under date Of December l6, In
part as follows:
las you state and understand the
movement I am entirely in sympathy
With II. That is, l am in favor OF a
broad, honest peace movement. in line
With the traditional policy Of this country
Of good Will and fair treatment for ali
the nations Of mankind"
In replying 10 another letter OF Mr.
Bloomer, written In answer to the above.
I Colonel Roosevelt said:
Unfortunately. Il is not possible for
me TO accept any invitation OF any kind
or sort; otherwise / would surely accept
this"
PoItee VIII Prevent Disorder.
Twelve hundred lovers OF peace have
sgnified their intention TO attend the
peace banquet with President TAFT as the
guest of honor. Whether the diners will
endorse the Taft arbitration treaties was
the same unanswered question this morn
Ing that has puzzled the peace promoters
several days ago when Colonel Roose-
Welt made it known that he would de-
| ll,nnaIn.,.d nn e.nnna Laae.