The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1911-03-17
TAFT, A DISCIPLE OF PEACE.

Sir Edward Grey Secretary of Foreign Affairs of
the British Government, speaking in the House OF
Commons Monday said in part: Twice within the last
two months the President of the United States has
sketched out step in advance more momentous than
any one thing any statesman in his position has
ventured to say before" In effect President Tafts
recent statement is this Il do personally any
reason why matters of National honor should be
referred to court of arbitration l also of the
opinion that If the United States could negotiate a
positive agreement with some other nation to abide
by the adjudication of International on every
question that could not be settled by negotiation,
matter involved, a long step forward would
be taken"
The British Minister'S own view of British action
is follows
I'VE have no proposal before and unless
public opinion rises to the height of discussing
proposal of that kind it cannot be carried out.
But supposing two of the greatest nations of the
world were to make it clear to the whole world by
such an agreement that under no circumstances
were they going to again l venture to say that
it would have benefcient effect.
"The nations that made such agreement
might be exposed to attack from third Power.
This would probably lead to their following with
agreement to join each other in any case where
one of them had quarrel with third nation
| which had refused to arbitrate.
1--WE should be delighted to receive such pro-
| posal / should feel it something so far reaching
in its consequences that it required not only the
signature of both governments but the deliberate
| ly decided sanction of Parliament. That believe
would be obtained
Regarding these two statements of two men OF
|
effect the future history of civilization it
be easily that they the most striking enuncia
tions made within the last score of years the two
fold subject of preservation and prevention
Any agreement between two such powers the
United States and Great Britain that neither would
wage the other and that each would protec
the other in of attack from third nation woulC
undoubtedly find great opposition either side O.
the Atlantic. Probably Great Britain would benef
to a larger extent by such arrangement than th'
United States. Such coalition could not but be tax
en- into serious consideration by aggreved thirt
Power, and in all probability would decisive
deterrent against attack from quarter whatsoever
We cannot but believe that arrangement whicl
would include more than two Powers would be more
beneficial. Sir Edward Grey has spoken in the mos
gratifying manner of the with which at any tim
within the last three years has been possible to dis
differences with Germany in frank spirit Sucl
statement has the greatest possible significance, com
ing as it does from temporarily occupying th
position of Premier about nation popularity and a.
think, erroneousy supposed to be hostile to Eng
land
And If such an arrangement should finally develop
that the old saying "In time of peace prepare TO
war;" should be changed to read, I'm time of peac
don't think of war; little credit must be given t.
President Taft for his efforts to bring it about