Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1914-08-20
ROOSEVELT SAYS
PENDING TREATIES
ARE OF NO WORTH
If Mexico Should Sell Magdalena
Bay to World Power We
Would BE Bound to
Arbitrate.

Hartford, Conn, Aug. 16.-Nearly half
of a political speech which Col. Theodore
Roosevelt delivered last night before
the progressive State convention here, he
devoted to discussion of "the great
cataclysm which has engulfed all Eu-
rope in war" If the Monroe doctrine
had not been steadfastly maintained, he
said, the United States in all probability
would have been drawn into tho present
struggle.
Africa south of the equator" he said
as now being drawn into the fight al
though without any interest in it. We
would have been drawn in in the same
way If It had not been for the observance
of the great principle which the Mon
roe doctrine contains, the principle that
this continent shall not be treated as a
place for territorial ACKNOWLEDGEMENT by
| oldworld powers.
The peace of the western hemisphere
largely depends upon the preservation
| of this doctrine. 1t is for this reason
that I feel that the arbitration treaties
now pending in the Senate would, If
adopted, be inimical to the interests Of
the United States and OF peace. in so
far as they would have any effect what
ever. / d. ubt II they would have much
effect because in the event Of their at
tempted execution against the interests
of this people. / do not believe they
would be executed. But surely it Is not
an honorable thing for this nation to en-
ter into treaties which either could not
or ought not TO be kept, Such action
argues badly for Our sincerity ind good
| faith.
Under the proposed treaties IL. as
a result OF this war. Denmark or Hol-
land should part with their islands
in the West Indies to some great
Old World power or If at some flu
ture time Mexico should similarly
part with Magdalena bay to some Old
World power, we would be solemnly
bound to join In the creation Of n
commission which would Investigate
all the matters at hand before we
could take any action. and this COM
mission would include representatives
of outside powers
within a fortnight we have had
fresh proof of the utter worthless
ness of treaties, of names signed 70
pieces Of papers, unless backed by
| force If power or interest demands
this violation. This fact has been
demonstrated again and again within
the last dozen years by almost every
one of the great nations who are now
engaged in this war. or who stand
, with their armies partially modified
! and their fleets gathered because of
the possibility Of being drawn into it,
Within this fortnight. as within the
preceding dozen years we have again
and again seen the most solemn treat
les guaranteeing neutrality, or agree
ing to arbitration, or guaranteeing
peace or setting q time limit to the
occupation Of writing. violated In
matter of course fashion and with
utter Indifference to what was prom
ised. In no case have they been re-
garded unless there was some mill
tary force back Of the treaty, some
method of !nsuring by the exertior
of power attention to the obligations
of a treaty
THESE proposed arbitration treaties OF
ours would not be worth the paper or
which they were written If It became to tn,
interest of any great military power t.
violate them, and If II thought II coult
violate them with impunity. We woult
have bound ourselves in such cases as
have illustrated to wait a year or so while
a joint commission pursued its weary
courses Of investigation, and during tina
time old-world military power II 1t de
sired TO retain Its new possessions, could
make a Gibraltar of one of our West In
dian islands, or Of Magdalena bay or any
other point of territory which it acquired
and 1t could then defy US to turn it gu
save at the cost OF war which might b,
as dreadful as any now IA cling.
These proposed treaties bind us to sub
init questions affecting the national homo,
and the vital interest of the United
States to the action Of joint commission
OF course this means we would have t
submit the Monroe doctrine itself to tn,
action Of such commission. When sucl
is the case It is mischievous folly to maxi
q treaty binding us to do the very thing
we would not do. and that 1t would b,
criminal on our part to do"