The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1911-12-20

|
The speech of Senator Root, Of New
York, was far and away the. feature Of
the long session. Senator Root combined
| the viewpoint Of the diplomat and former
premier with that Of the constructive
| statesman. He pointed out that the
! treaty OF 1892 was signed and ratified at
time when the doctrine OF indefeasible
allegiance was generally recognized by
the United States as well as other coun-
tries Of the world. Since that time Con-
gress had passed an act which practi-
! cally repealed this doctrine, and all Of
the civilized nations of the world, eX-
cept Russia, China, and Turkey. had
renounced the former doctrine. He de-
clared that the treaty was therefore OBJ
solete.
Root Warns senate.
| Senator Root warned the Senate of the
dangers that necessarily would follow the
use OF language that Russia might con-
strue as offensive.
| Il am clearly Of the opinion" he said,
/ that the treaty with Russia ought to be
| terminated and that action should be
! taken at once so that termination may
come at the earliest day possible under
the terms of the treaty itself I do not
think the House resolution addressed to
| that end contains an adequate statement
| Of the reasons why this government Is
constrained to ask for the termination
| OF the treaty, but do think the language
of the House resolution, in some respects,
! is unfortunate.
IF our treaty with Russia had been
construed as we think it should be.
| 1t would be adequate to meet the needs
| of our people and in conformity with
the political principles We profess. II
that were the case, then I would say
it would be appropriate to call upon Rus
to haFr rkvy,Gf
the true construction to that tribunal
Then, II the decision were against us we
might take such course as seemed most
wise. The trouble with such a course,
however, is that the treaty must always
remain troublesome and unsatisfactory.
During the past twenty years there has
been great change among all nations
towards the subject matter OF this treaty
and We have shared in that change"
Russia stands Alone.
Senator Root chowed that down to the
time of Buchanan. the United States. in
common with other nations, had held
to the doctrine that the citizen or sub
ject had no power to expatrtot himself.
That doctrine is still maintained by Rus
STA, alone of all the European powers, and
the United States commits itself to the
principle in article 10 of the treaty now
up for termination.
President Buchanan advanced the doc
trine OF the inalienable right of man to
change his domicile and his allegiance.
That creed found expression in statutory
law during the administration of
Buchanan and since then. Mr.. Root
pointed out, practically every civilized
nation has accepted this principle. which,
Mr.. Root added, was the answer OF these
nations Ito the wave of immigration
from their own lands to the United States.
GsrTTI, g,k1 80 ~
the construction that has been placed
upon it." continued the New York Sena-
tor, 's wholly inconsistent with the de-
clared policy of the United States. 1t is
inconsistent with the present view of the
civilized world and belongs to days that
have passed away. We should set our
selves right with regard to our own prin-
ciples and no longer assent to their mega
ton, which is the practical effect OF the
maintenance Of the treaty with Russia
Mr.. Root severely criticised the Ian
guage of the Sulzer resolution as 1t
passed the House.
Must BE Conservative.
TT behOoves u.s." he continued, ito be
quite conservative in the use of official
language regarding this treaty, lest in
moment of enthusiasm we find words
that may come back to plague us when
turned the other way. One good reason
for stating this notice in simple terms.
without specifying reasons. is that there
are millions Of Russian subjects of Mon
golian blood who to-day are not admitted
into the United States. We should not
specify reasons that might involve us in
the charge of discriminating against a
portion of the subjects of Russia whose
right TO entry into the United States are
guaranteed under this treaty.
Continuing, Mr. Root pointed out that
the existing treaty was exceedingly limit
ed in its scope. He hoped the government
would proceed Immediately upon the ne
gotiation Of a new treaty, but II the
United States must go without any
treaty of commerce with Russia, that, ne
believed, would be better than the con-
tinuance of the present convention.
The peace of the world continued
Mr.. Root, speaking partly from his ex-
perience as a former head Of the State
Department, rests upon studied and
careful courtesy between nations. More
murders, more assaults between men,
have been committed as result OF In
suit than from any other cause. Ma
lions are doubly resentful at insult, Tor
a national affront is an appeal to ma
tional patriotism. Accusations, impu-
tations, insinuations, all controversial
matters should be excluded. 1t Is
enough for us to assert our adherence
TO our great national principles. If
we are to end this treaty and negotiate
a new one we must go about 1t In
dignified, courteous way. If we seek
to open up a controversy, 1t may end
no man knows where.
Affects Our Prestige.
IF we depart from the proper IAN
guage of diplomacy and offer an insult
to Russia the sympathy of every CIV
iIized people on the earth will be with
the nation that has been insulted, and
the tremendous power of the public
opinion of mankind will be behind
refusal of all efforts of our diplomacy
to secure a new arrangement which
may benefit our fellow-citizens with
whose woes we sympathize. 1t NOS
only will AFFECT us in this particular
case, but it will affect the position. the
prestige, the good will, and credit OF
our country in all its foreign relations.
It will mean the impairment OF our
cordial relations with Russia, our old
time friend, which have been so long
maintained. It will leave us with less
prestige than we had before"
Senator Culberson, of Texas, who has
complained from time to time because
of the failure of the Foreign Relations
Committee to act on the resolution he
introduced some time ago, providing for
the abrogation of the treaty, made SEN |