The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1912-08-30
Prominent Diplomat, Former
Richmond Resident, Says
that Nicaraguan Troubles
Are Complicated.
.COL. ROOSEVELT is
GIVEN HIGH PRAISE
For His Foreign Policy, and
Mr.. Dennis Says He Will
Support T. R.-Knox Also
Given Praise.

Dr. william Dennis, OF washington,
| D. c., an authority on international
law, who represented the United
States as agent in two arbitration
questions, today at the home of his
1ather, DR.. D. w. Dennis of Earlham
college, discussed the national politi-
cal situation and expressed his opinion
on the Nicaragua affair.
DIR. William Dennis was connected
with the state department as assistant
solicitor under Roosevelt's administra-
ton and also under President Taft,
resigning with the most cordial rela-
tions between himself and the depart
ment two years ago to take up the
practice of law in Washington, special
izing on international law.
The underlying difficulty in the Mic
araguan situation, DR.. Dennis holds,
is the failure of the senate to act IA
yorably upon the Nicaragua loan con-
vention, which would have regulated
the financial affairs of that country.
Is For Roosevelt.
| Replying to the question whom he
would support this fall, DIR. Dennis
said that under all circumstances he
was enthusiastically for Roosevelt, but
that he had great admiration for and
confidence in Secretary Knox, and in
the state department as a whole the
efficiency of the organization of the
department has been vastly improved
during the last four years.
Asked if he considered President
Taft's administration a constructive
one, DIR. Dennis said: at would take
long time to answer that question fur
ther than by saying that I am going
to vote for Roosevelt. l would enjoy
taking the stump for the colonel but
I will not have the time"
Great credit for the reorganization
of the state department" said DR.. Den
, mis-, belongs to Huntington Wilson.
the hard working assistant secretary
of state. One of the most indefensi-
BILE things which the Democratic ma
jority of the house of representatives
attempted to do, was to.cripple the
state department by failing to appro-
pirate for practically all the additional
officers who have been necessarily
added in the reorganization of the de-
partment The saving would have been
between 100000 or $4,000, the dam
age would have been very serious.
Practically everything which has been
accomplished in the way Of giving the
department a modern organization fit
to cope with the foreign departments
of other great nations would have been
undone. Fortunately the attempt mis-
carried in the senate. The Democratic
w In,
not believe either in being adequately
prepared to negotiate or to fight"
Was An Act of War.
DR.. Dennis held that the ordering
of the Tenth United States infantry
to Nicaragua by President Taft was
not in itself declaration of war, but
could be interpreted as an act of war
by the Nicaraguan government. Inas-
much as the order was later counter
manded the affair has no international
significance.
The landing of marines by the or
der of the president" said DR.. Dennis,
even though it were construed as an
act of war by the other party would
not be declaration of war on the part
of this government. Congress only can
declare war. But If the other govern
ment were to choose to regard the
landing as an act of war and were to
meet ii in kind, state of war might
result For war, of course, is a fact
and does not require a declaration.
The case in point is the outbreak of
the Mexican war. When President
Poke directed the United States
troops to occupy the territory in dis.
pute between the United States and
Mexico. a clash between Mexican and
United States troops followed, and
congress subsequently passed an act
declaring that a state of war existed
through the act of the Mexican gov.
errment.
Where Trouble 10.
The underlying difficulty in the Mic.
laragua situation" DR.. Dennis said, sis
I undoubtedly the failure of the senate
of the United States to act favorably
upon the Nicaragua loan convention.
negotiated by Secretary Knox. This
convention and the loaL convention
with Honduras, also negotiated by
him. is in line with the previous con-
vention with San Domingo, negotiated
by Secretary Root.
The Nicaragua convention is sim.
iply an arrangement whereby the Unit.
: ed States lends its aid to Nicaragua
in reducing its financial affairs to or
der and refunding its debt In accord
ance with the convention, the govern.
ment OF Nicaragua is to appoint a Gus
toms collector from among certain
lrersons nominated with the approval
of the president of the United States