El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1914-08-17
MONROE DOCTRINE
SAVES j, s, FROM
WAR---R00SEVELT
Colonel Declares Pending
Peace Treaties Almost
Utterly Worthless.

Hartford. Conn. Aug. 17.-By this
q time the United States would probably
have been drawn into the European
war If the Monroe doctrine had not
I been steadfastly maintained This. at
least, was the view advanced by former
president Theodore Roosevelt in a
speech Saturday night before the Pro
gressive" state convention
Nearly half Of the coloneTs political
speech was devoted to what he termed
the great cataclysm which has en-
quilted all Europe in war"
Africa, south Of the equator" he
said, is now being drawn into the
fight without any interest in it, We
would have been drawn in in the same
way II It had not been for the observ-
ance OF the great principle which the
Monroe doctrine contains, the principle
that this continent shall not be treated
as a place for territorial aggrandize-
ment by Old World powers.
Thinks Treaties Ineffective.
The peace Of the western hemis-
phere largely depends upon the preser-
walton Of this doctrine It is for this
reason 1 feel that the arbitration trea-
ties now pending in the senate would.
II adopted, be inimical to the inter-
ests Of the United States and Of peace
insofar as they would have any effect
whatever. I doubt if they would have
much effect, because in the event OF
their attempted execution against the
interests or this people I do not be-
4AChE AAEg WO4A4 De executed BT1T
surely IL is not an honorable thing for
TINS nation to enter into treaties which
either could not or ought nor 10 be
kept Such action argues badly for
our sincerity ana good faith
How They Affect L. $.
Under the proposed treaties If. as a
result OF this war, Denmark or Hol-
land should part with their Islands in
the West Indies TO great old world
powers or II at scme future time Mex
leo should similarly part with Magda-
Lehd pay 10 some o-d world power we
would be solemnly bound to foin in
the creation OF { commission which
would investigate all the matters at
hand before we could take any action
ana this commission would Include
representatives OF outside powers.
Treaties Proved Worthless.
Nilhlh fortnight we have had
fresh proof OF the utter worthIessness
OF treaties, OF names signed 10 Dieces
Of paper unless backed nv force IL
power or interest demands this viola
uon. mis- fact has been demonstrated
again ana again within the last dozen
years Dy 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
galhered because Of the possibility of
being drawn into il.
Merely Binds Z. s.
THESE proposed arbitration treaties
o. ours would not be worth the paper
on which they were written If IL he
came 10 the interest Of any great mill
Jary power to violate them and il il
thought It could violate them with i'm
puhlty- We would have bound our
serves IN such cases as 1 have illus
lEaleu 10 wait year or so while a
JOINT commission pursued its weary
course OF Investigations and during
that time old world military power. il
IL desired to retain its new possessions.
Tyt 0ulu make a Gibraltar Of one Of our
West Indian islands. or Of AIagdalena
nay or any other point OF territory
winch II acquired, and it could defy US
10 turn Il out save at the cost Of war.
"a ging."