Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1911-08-30
OBJECTIONS TO The ARBITRATION
TREATIERS.

once in a while, and there seems to
be another side to the arbitration
treaty question that is now before the
people.
When the Senate Foreign Relations
Committee reported adversely on the
treaties with Great Britain and
France, II branded them as breeders
of war. and then adjourned. Eminent
authorities have since added the
weight of their opinions to the side of
the protesting Senators, Among
these authorities is Hannis Taylor.
who has served the country with dis
tinction In diplomatic capacity and
is generally recognized as a keen an
alyzer of treaties and an authority
on international law.
The danger that threatens the Mon
roe doctrine seems to be Mr.. Taylors
main fear, and he writes as follows:
"The only practical outcome of
these treaties will be the submission
J to tribunals, necessarily dominated by
European influences. of the vital and
subtle questions arising out of the
Monroe doctrine, upon which our
Ioverlordship In this hemisphere de-
ponds. When we agree with Euro
pean nations to arbitrate questions of
vital interest and national honor be-
hind the veil, the Monroe doctrine and
its consequences is really the one sub
stantinl thing involved
"Only special students of the his
tory Of the Monroe doctrine, created
by the pens of presidents and secre-
taries of state, understand its pecul-
lar and exceptional relations, to that
set of understandings we call interna-
tional law. It is the outcome OF, our
peculiar position of isolation from
the European nations, position
which makes It possible for us to d.
rect the affairs of this hemisphere
without entangling alliances with
them.
president Cleveland. who finally
gave It scientific definition during the
controversy with Great Britain as to
. the boundaries Of Venezuela, said: 1T
was intended to apply to every stage
of our national life, and cannot be-
come obsolete while our Republic en-
dures. II the balance of power is
justly cause for jealous anxiety
among the governments of the old
world. and subject for our absolute
noninterference. none the less is an
observance of the Monroe doctrine of
vital concern to our people and their
government
Just as 1t would be impossible for
the nations of Europe to submit the
, questions arising out of the mainte-
: nance OF the balance of power there
to u tribunal dominated by new world
influences. so It is impossible for us
to submit the Monroe doctrine and its
, subtle and far-reaching consequences
to tribunal dominated by old world
, influences.
"The radical difficulty involved
arises out of the fact that as the Mon
roe doctrine is law of our own Gre
alton for our own special benefit, II
has no such recognized status In in
ternational law as to make It enforce
able by an international tribunal ad-
ministering that law. 1t is in its very
nature nonjustifable by any tribunal
whatever, because 1t is an emanation
of our sovereign will. 1t is a law
unto ourselves.
"If the President should attempt to
| defend himself by asserting that II is
not the the purpose of the arbitration
/ treaties to involve the Monroe doc
trine. then let that fact be clearly
: written across the face of each one of
them. The moment that is done the
! European powers will refuse to be
parties to them.
Let every patriotic American, no
matter whether Democrat or Republic
, can. answer In the same spirit when
| ever any man or set of men attempts
to overthrow that precious and pecul-
, lar heritage known as the Monroe
I doctrine. upon which our primary In
this hemisphere depends.
mo one has been more devoted to
( the cause of International arbitration.
within reasonable and patriotic lin
/. its. than l have been. In my work on
: international law, l have been its
Q humble but steadfast defender. The
, fret ua gua confaranca wae a hrillta nj