The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1911-12-29
Roosevelt Declares They Promise
Too Much and Couldn't be
Lived up To
FARCE in The PRESENT FORM
Would Expose U. S. to the Ridi.
cule Of the Nations
Abrogstisn Of Russian Treaty Shows
What Would Happen Under
General Arbitration.

New York, Dec. 29.-The following
editorial on "The Russian Treaty. Ar
biratlon and Hypocrisy by Theodore
Roosevelt appears in the current is
sue Of The Outlook:
II cordially approve the action taken
by Congress in abrogatlng the Russian
treaty. because men must vote and act
on the situation as it actually con
fronts them: aud in the actual event
Congressman had but two alternatives,
namely, to abrogate the treaty, or to
submit TO the continuance Of condi-
tons which have become intolerable to.
our national sclf-respect, and which
represent a continuing wrong, espe-
clally to American citizens of Jewish
faith.
II still believe that In so serious "A
matter II would have been we'll first To
endeavor to secure decision by the
Hague Court on the Interpretation of
the existing treaty ! am confident that
such decision would of necessity.
have been In our favor: and. II so. II
would have enabled Russia to retire
grace and no loss of self-respect-an
object that should always be held I'm
view In dealing with any foreign ma
tion with which at any time we have
difficulties: while If the decision as 10
the Interpretation Of the clause In
question had been adverse 10 us, we
would then at once have abrogated the
~ .f,,i,y In,
SO doing This was the position held
by that distinguished diplomat Mr. Os-
car Strauss. But no movement had
been made by either nation looking to-
wards any other method of settling the
matter than the one actually adopted.
Congress was confronted by the simple
fact that unless the treaty were abro-
gated conditions would remain as they
now are; and. under the circumstances,
Congress acted wisely and properly in
declaring for the abrogatlon.
Criticizcs Arbitration Treaties.
But this action was taken while the
universal arbitration treaties are pend
ing In the Senate. These treaties arc
ayowedly championed as being of the
kind we are TO enter into with all ma
tions. and as supplanting the existing
arbitration treaties which we nave
With almost all nations. including RUS
sia as we'll as England and France,
These treaties If ratified by the Sem
ate unamendcd. will explicitly prom
ise win explicitly pledge the honor ana
good faith of the American nation 10
arbitrate precisely such questions as
that which at this very moment we
announce that we will not endeaVor
TO arbitrate I'm the case of Russia. uh-
der these circumstances, To ratlfy the
general arbitration treaties would put
the American people in an attitude ol
peculiarly contemplate hypocrisy. ana
would right expose US to he dcrslon of
oil thinking tnankind Tor we would
put ourselves I'm the pos tlon of max
ing sweeping and insincere promises
impossible of performance, at the very
time when by our own actions We
showed that we would certainly not
keep such promises. nor translate theni
into action I believe that we can nor
mally arbitrate the question of the M
depreciation Of treaty, even If only as
the preliminary to adopting the very
serious action of denouncing such
treaty. But | do not bclicvcs that we
can arbitrnte. with the intention OF
abiding by the arbitration, such ques-
tions as treating all our citizens aiike'
without regard to their creed IN the
matter of passports or such questiohs
as the Monroe Doctrine, the admission
of Asiatlc immigrants i'm mass, OF
the refusal by the states to pay bonds
on many other similar matters III
short, do not believe that we can
afford To- arbitrate questions of vital
interest and national honor, or dues-
tions of settled American government
tai policy.
Proposed Treaties Fsrcical.
Moreover. the attitude we are no"
taking as regards the abrogauoh oi
the Russian treaty shows beyond pos
sibillty of doubt that If we were SO
foolish or so timid as to agree. as an
abstract matter. by general arbitra- :
tion treaties. to arbitrate such dues-
tons we should Instantly repudiate
the agreement whenever concrete
case arose In which any consideraoie
number OF our citizens took an active
interest. Under such circumstances
to proceed with the ratification oil inc
general arbitration treaties unamended
would be not merely a farce, Out
farce played at the expense of our rep
utation for national good faith ano
sincerity. believe most earnestly III
peace, and I'm taking any step Tor AT
bitration which will genuinely tell III
favor of peace: and | oppose these
treaties because. II unamended. they
would tell against peace and would pu'
us as nation In an attitude of unctu-