The Washington times., 1911-12-31
Dove NOT PRESENT !
At PEACE DINNER IN
new YORK CITY
Air Charged With Electric
ityTaft Defends Arbi-
trail Treaties.

NEW YORK, Dec. s1.-The dove of
peace perched elsewhere than at the
much discussed citizens peace banquet
at the Waldorf-Astoria, which was ad-
dressed by President Taft last night.
Hundreds Of banqueters cried peace,
peaca." but there was no peace, or at
least little Of It,
Foes OF the cause of peace saw in the
circumstances that surrounded tfe ban
quet, numerous signs that. after all,
human nature Graves war and not
peace, that II II looking for trouble,
and scang around with q chip ON its
shsul1sr.
Conspicuous Features.
Here are sorne OF the things thar pre-.
vented the peace banquet from living
UP to It's name:
President Taft was kept waiting in
an ante-room for an hour while those
In charge Of the dinner Strengthened out
q snarl that had arisen at the eleventh
hour.
The seven ambassadors of foreign ma
tions who had accepted invitations
failed to appear. Three Of them at the
last moment sent the committee in
charge word that they couldn't be there.
Secretary Of State Knox did not per
NIT his enthusiasm for peace to compel
him to attend the banquet. Governor
DIX also was absent.
The printing arrangements miscarried
and the guests were kept waiting until
the seating list, after a long delay, was
made ready.
Atmosphere Charged.
The atmosphere was charged with
electricity because Of the lctter from
Colonel Roosevelt, attacking the hypoc-
risy Of the peace treaties, which came
out in the course of the afternoon
Everybody was looking for something
to happen and there was an uneasy fesl-
ing throughout the affair.
The presence at the banquet of sixty
"strong-arm" police detailed by Police
Commissioner Waldo to keep order and
see that no disorder arose and no bai
language was spilled did not suggest
world peace or International arbitra-
ton. The police sat apart from the rest
Of the diners with nothing to do but
listen and yawn-
Barring such things as these, the
peace dinner was largely what its name
implies. The President was plainly ir-
ritated by the delay in beginning the
dinner. But after 1t got into progress,
he recovered good humor and made a
speech that was calculated to smooth
out the creases and In which there was
Roosevelt.
Many Disappointed.
Indeed. one not knowing what had oc-
CURED preceding the dinner. hearing the
speech Of Mr.. Taft, would never have
suspected that Theodore Roosevelt had
Just got through declaring the action
on the Russian passport question plus
the peace treaties put us as a nation
I'm ridiculous and hypocritical posi-
tfon."
One phase Of the event that is like
fy to be much discussed later on Is
the failure of the foreign diplomats to
attend. The suggestion is even made
that their absence may lead to .un-
pleasant international developments,
though this is hardly deemed proba ple.
President Taft disappointed many
In that he did not take up the gauge
Of battle thrown down by Roosevelt.
Had he launched into q bitter excori-
alton Of the course Of the former Pres
ident there is no doubt he would have
made hit with many of the ban
QucteTs. Inc fTe8lOent sat between
Andrew Carnegie. who looked deeply
thoughtful. and John Temple Graves
Mr.. Graves introduced the President
declaring that despite the stormy ne
slnu trsl Of politics that hoyered at tn, the
tee," everything was harmonious.
Argues For Treaties.
The President argued at length for
the pending treaties and denied the
charge of inconsistency. He said:
Those of us who are in favor OF
these treaties have been criticised as
inconsistent because we did not invoke
arbitration In the recent difference with
Russia" said Mr.. Taft. "I am not en-
tirely willing to speak as frankly as
might Of that because my tongue is tieC
In a slight way by what we hope for II
future negotiations. All that I can sal
is that IL you will read the great argu
ment of Elihu Root on the question O
why the treaty should be terminated ant
why arbitration would not do. am con
tent to stand on his exhibit and explana
tion of that
Replying to other criticisms of th'
treaties, the President continued:
There are certain questions that !
Is said we would have to arbitrate un
der this treaty; We would have to arbi
trate the Monroe doctrine. ! say it i
not justiciable question under tn
treaty Prof. Bassett Moore, who 4
perhaps the greatest international au
thority we have in this country, say
the very same thing. Sir Edward Gre
says so on the floor Of parliament, 81
think We are rather safe on that ques
tion. Then the question is whether W
should arbitrate the right of anybody 7
come into this country against our VIII
OF course, if We make a treaty letting
man in, why. We are bound to re
spond to the treaty, but IL We do no
the question of letting anybody In Is
question of national policy and not In
ternational policy. and cannot be arbi
trated. 1t Is a question of the liberal
ity OF the nation that owns the groun
and territory. That is ALL"
President Cheered.
what we have got to come to l
this" said the President, ito recogniz
either that we want arbitration and
peaceful settlement of disputes, or tina
we don't. And we have got to meal
business when we go into arbitration
This playing of heads l win and tail
you lose will make no progress In
Christian civilization. Ii is not possibl
that we should win in every case"