The Washington herald., 1914-02-28
TAFT Sees PERIL
in INTERVENTION
Says Entering Mexico Would
Cost Many Lives and Ac-
complish Little.
CANAL TOPICS DISCUSSED
Former President, in Geographic So
ciety Lecture. Urges Country to
Observe Treaty Obligations.

Nonintervention in Mexico. observa-
tion Of this country's treaty obligations
with foreign nations regarding the Pan
anna Canal the promotion of Col George
w. Goethals to be Chief Engineer OF the
army. and the hope that the United
States never again viii be called on TO
intervene in Cuba. were the striking
points in an address delivered by for
ner President Taft before the National
Geographic Society In the auditorium of
the New Masonic Temple yesterday aft
ernoon and evening.
The former President was received
with enthusiasm, the applause which
greeted him upon entering the hall last
ing several minutes. Gen. Greely intro
duced Mr.. Taft as a modern Ulysses,
man near and dear to the American peor
pie and especially to US OF Washington"
Mr.. Taft was in excellent good humor
and said he had been called good
many names in his career, but that II
was the first time he ever had been
styled ''the modern Ulysses
would he Catastrophe.
In speaking of Mexico, the former Pres
ident said: 1.-The situation is in such a
condition that it will be improper for me
to comment on 1t, except to say this:
Thai those who lightly look forward to
intervention either are utterly regardless
of the loss of life and the expenditure OF
immense treasure, or else they don
know what armed intervention on the
part of this government in Mexico VIII
mean. Those of US who have had ex-
perience in the tranduilizing of tropical
country, with a people not very different
from the MeNicans, who take naturally
to guerrilla var<a-e, and who would
N runrE. that is would
rather fight and run than work. know
the difficulties that an army would have
to meet 10 accomplish the only purpose
that We would have in going in. to wit,
the bringing about of law and order.
1T would involve the garrisoning with
4 sufficient force of every town, 1t would
involve the organization of columns TO
chase the guerrilas into their mountain
Businesses and across trackless desert
plains and the subjugatiOn of 15,0o0,O00
of people / don't know when We would
get through; ] don't know how many
lives IL would involve; 1 don't know how
much IL would cost, but ] do know 1t
would be drag upon us and then, when
We had gotten the thing done, the future
still would be doubtful and still be a
charge and a burden upon our govern
meDt and upon our treasury. 1 do not
speak thus positively without some knowl-
edSe OIL lne SUBJECT NO chorl ouSit 10
be omitted to prevent a catastrophe like
this"
Discussing the Panama Canal Mr.. Taft
said it was bad policy not to observe
strictly every treaty obligation entered
into between this country and foreign
nations with regard to the canal.
''Of course" he said. I'VE have all the
rights of ownership. except as they have
been limited by treaty. / am willing to
arbitrate the question and abide by the
decision of the tribunal. / have no time
for the man who says we ought to stand
on cur rights and disregard our duties as
imposed on us in the treaties"
Lauds Col. GoethaIs.
Mr. Taft told how he found" Col.
Goethals, who, as "the son Of a Dutch
man, inherited his love for canals" He
commended Col. Goethais' diplomacy.