The Washington times., 1912-04-26
INTERVENTION IN
MEXICO WOULD Be
GIGANTIC BLUNDER
Statement Made At Interna-
tional Law Society's Meet
ing BY St. Louis Man.

Possible Intervention of the United
States in Mexico was denounced at this
mornings meeting of the American In
ternational Law Society at the building
of the Pan-American Union by Joseph
Wheliss, a member from st. Louis.
Theodore Marburg, of Baltimore, had
referred to the possibility of interven-
tion in connection with an address pre-
viously made and Mr.. Wheliss rose to
say that American intervention In
Mexico would be an egregious blunder
and a monstrous crime"
The possibility of Intervention came
up as tho theme of discussion In a
somewhat roundabout way. Christian
Lange, the Norwegian diplomat, in COM
menting upon the address made last
evening by Senator Pasauale Fiale, of
Italy, urged that "the principle OF
tutclage of nations which are not gov
erning themselves properly be a prin-
ciple considered by the future union of
state OF which Senator Fiale speaks.
Mr.. Lange then cited American inter-
vention in Cuba as an example OF un-
selfishness by the United States, which
withdrew as soon as 1t could.
Obligation Is Greater.
Mr.. Marburg then rose TO suggest that
it one nation interviewed in the affairs
OF q troubled or troublesome country at
the wish OF a possible future union OF
states the obligation to withdraw would
be all the greater because of that dele
CATION by the union Of states:
IF, for instance, the United States
should have to intervene in Mexico,
said Mr.. Marburg, the temptation tc
remain there permanently would b:
loss great IL the United States should
make such intervention as the delegate
of a union of nations.
Mr.. Marburg did not advocate inter
vention specifically but cited the mat mat
as II believing the Baltimore man was
Before this came up members of the
society heard James Brown Scott, Of
read paper On On t9e nits fS
States. This was the paper prepared
by oscar Straus. of New York, intend
ed to be read for him last evening, bu
delayed until this morning.
Mr.. Straus justified the exercise o.
American diplomacy in respect to in
ternal affairs of other nations, saying
"Self-preservation is the first law o
nations, and to protect its national en-
tity State is justified in going to war
and as the greater includes the less
and to intervene In the affairs OF othe
states to control their external as wei
a. their internal affairs If states ow1
sovereignty is menaced or Its vital In
terests Jeopardized.
"SuchS Intervention may take man,
forms. 1t may be mandatorial or die
tatorial. In it's lesser forms 1t assume
another state-be that action With
the state itself or in its relation t
other powers. But a distinction i
drawn, and properly so, between activ
Intervention and intercession.
1t was on intercession that Mr.. Strau
found legal basis for all the humanetar
fan efforts of the United States dplo
macy in the past, specific reference be
following Wing the Kishenev massacre.
Following Mr.. Straus' paper tha
OF Joaquin D. Casasus, former Mex
can ambassador here. was read b
sachusetts Peace Society. The pape
" dealt with the question Of appeals In ar
bitration cases before The Hague tri
bunal.
Senator Root Speaks.
Senator Root, who is president Of tn
society, delivered the first address
the opening meeting last night Sena
tor Root spoke of the United States
attempt to have the powers of the priZ
court, established by the last Hagu
conference, SO broadened that any ques
ton between the powers may be deter
mined by the Judges of that court. Ser
ator Root deplored the possible failur
"The whole practice of making ger
eral treaties Of arbitration cannot IA
to be discredited by the failure, IL ther
is to be a failure, of the prize couI
convention. for the cynical are sure
question the sincerity OF the genert
treaties of arbitration covering tn
whole field of international rc.at.uns Ne
tween nations which refuse to asser
70 this convention covering but sma
part OF the same field"
Everett p. Wheeler, of New Yorl
talked of maritime regulations. an
euoligized Thomas Henry tsmaN, fatht
Of Bruce Ismay, of the White Star lin
Thomas Henry Ismay," said M
Wheeler, who is a lawyer by occupl
tion, revived attention to the need &c
uniform ocean regulation after the civ
war In letter to the British board {
trade. He recommended the adoptio
Of more stringent rules, and notified til
board that his line had then institute
greater precautionary regulations"
Mr. Wheeler declared in favor OF ne
treaties between maritime nations goN
erning lifeboats. wireless telegraph
apparatus, and other safety-makin
equipment.
Senator Pasquale Fiale, OF italy, rea
in French his paper which was CON
prehensive review Of the history of IL
ternational relations their preser
sfafma aod fhair futitra oufloOk