New-York tribune., 1911-12-30
ASSA|LS TAFT POLICY
Roosevelt Opposes Presidents
Arbitration Proposition.
AGAINST UNAMENDE0 PACTS
Says Nation Is Put in Attitude
Of "Unctuous and 0dious
Hypocrisy"

The following editorial on The Russian
Treaty. Arbitration and HypocTiSy,' by
Theodore Roosevelt, appears in the current
issue Of The Outlook
cordially approve the action taken by
congress IN abroCating the Russian treaty,
because men must vote and act on lne
situation ~ ~ actually Conf'oh'S 'helh,
and in tho actual event congressman hau
}5u Two alternative namely, {" aprosdlc
the treaty o. to submit To tho continuance
OF conditions which have become lntolerd-
hle 90 our national Selt-TeSpCCt, and when
represent = continuing wrouG eSpccl"IIE
To American citizens Of Jewish talth.
Still heiicvc that IN 50 serious u MT
tor VI would have been well hrst TO en-
dcaVor 10 secure a decision by the iidEue
court on the Interpretation of tue eNlSt
INK treaty | am confident that such ue-
Cieion would, Cf necessity, nave ptti ~
our favor. and. If SO, II would nave ehdpieu
Russia to retire from an untcnabIe posi-
ttcn with good grace aud no iosS oi So,
respect--au object that should ai"@Es ~
held in Wow ~ dealing with any loTelen
nation with which any time VIC have
difficulties. while il the decision as 10 the
Interpretation Of the clause in question
had neen adverse to us we would then at
once have abrogated tho treaty, and have
been clearly right in so doing.
Says Congress Acted Wisely.
This was the position held by that dis
tiusuishcd diplomat. Mr.. Oscar StrduS But
no movement had been made by either ma =
ton looking toward any other method or
settling the matter than the ole actually
adopted Congress was confronted by the
simple fact that unless the treaty We're
ahroeated conditions would remain as they
now ere and under the circumstances
Congress acted wisely and properly in de-
daring for the abToSation.
Put this action was taken while the uni
Nersal arbitration treaties are pending in
the Senate. These treaties are aVoWedlE
Championed as being Of the kinh W" ar" 10
outer into with al NATIONS. ana a. SUI SUI
rlanting the existing arbitration treaties
which We have with almost all nations, m
Guiding Russia. az We'll rs England ana
France These treaties. II ratified hy lh'
senate una mended will explicitly promise;
viii explicitly pledge the honor ana Soou
faith OF the American nation. 10 aInliral"
pIeciEely' such questions as that which Al
this very moment We dnnou"t, ,ho Ina coec
VIII rot endcayoT, to arbitrat" IN the case
81 Russia .e
u nder these circumstance. to raufy
the general arbitration treaties Wonl Pu,
the American people in an atutuue OF
pecularly cOntenptihl" hNporIsN anu
would rightly expos" lS To thc derlSl0ll u.
All thinking mankind. tor we Shoulu Pu'
ourselves in the position or ma klnE sweep.
ing. anS insincerc promises. impoSSlbic OF
performance. at the very time when ~ our
own actions We showed that VIC would GER
taiDIy not keep such promises nor trans
lato them into action. ! DeHeNe tnal W.
car normally arbitrate the question oi lhe
Interpretation Of a treaty. even u on only q a.
The preliminary 10 adopting me very SttII-
aus action Of dencunCing Such treaty. huJ
do not believe that We can aroitrste' WIN
the intention OF abiding by the arDllfauou,
such questions as treating all our cuzens
aHko without regard to their creed, In
the matter of passports or such queStlohs
as IN" Monroe Doctrine, the ADMISSION OF
ASiatic immiErantS in mass or the re-
fusal bv the states 10 pay bonds or many
other similar matters. In snort. 90 not
believe that we can afford TO arbltrate
questions Of vital interest and national
honor or questions OF settled American
governmental policy.
Narrower the attitude we are now taking
rs regards the abrogation Of the Russl&n
treaty shows beyond possibility OF doubt
that IL We were so foolish or so tmld as
20 agree. As an abstract matter, py eener-
II arbitration treaties to arbitrate suth
questions we should instantly lepuHl3'e the
agreement whenever a concrete case arose
in which any considerable number oi our
CitiZCus took an active interest OnueI SUN
circumstances TO proceed with the rauhca-
ton OF the general arbitration treaties un-
amended would be not merely a farce, but
2 farce played al the expense OF our rep..-
tstion for hational good faith and sincerity.
Opposes Treaties If Unansnded.
believe most earnestly in peace, and in
taking any step for arbitration which will
genuinely teH in favor of peace and op-
pose these treaties because, If unamended,
they would tell against peace and would
put us ss d nation in an attitude of unc-
tuous and cdous hypocrisy. Both the
Lodge and the Root amendments should
he adopted: the treaties would then cease
10 be detrimental to our national honor and
interest, and (holding in view the aorogd-
lion Of the Russian treaty. would he re-
Neved from the present taint of evident In
sincerity. although even then they would
represent q very small advance over oui
present position.
II Is possible with sincerity and patriot
ism 10 favor the arbitration treaties Cal
though ] personally disagree with thi'
view II Is possible with sincerity and pa
triotism TO oppose the arbitration treaties
Uut it is neither sincere nor patriotic Il
make believe 10 support the principle Of ar
b,tration in general and TO try TO get The
country 10 commit itself to this principle
and at the same time to take part in, or &c
couuivc at. the reputation by this country
"i the principle so loudly advocated. the
very first moment that il is possible TO re-
duCc that principle 10 practice. IN other
words, il will put this country into q posi-
tiou both ridiculous and discrcditable to
treaties al the same time that We de-
nouUcc our general treaty with Russia.
The Other DAY the lower house, with but
one dlssentins vote, passed resolution in
favor Of the abrogstion Of the treaty
Among those who voted for this motion
are many men who are. against the una
UcHdrd arbitration treaties. These men
occupy n sincere and consistent position
II !. the position with which ! persona lily
agree. Tho one dissenting vote was that
tdSt hT a gentleman who aE3ounced that
he was IN favor of the general afbitra-
u3u treaties and th"rt fore could not con-
S!stentlN take q position wholly incompsti-
nc with taN0TiaG them.
Although do not agree with this gentle
man, l"fi That his position showed both
courage aud sincerity But surely all men
pHo 'hi.H CLEARLY must unquali6edly con-
dein any man who advocates the general
arbitration ueati@- without at the same
tine fcarlcs~ly showing his sincerity by de-
lounClpS the proposal to arbitrato tue Rus
sian ucaty without submitting its intcr-
lIftaICu TO arbitration. The Senate by
vote has i"iGcd iu anrOGaing the Russian
treats. and therefore il win act i'm a way 10
C"St q, ,.vICult upon the United states If II