Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1915-08-31
WHAT WE
ESCAPED.

Roosevelt, were he in the Whltc
House, the United States would be
one of the belligerents in the present
gigantic conflict The passage OF Ger
man troops through Belgium over a
year ago would. according to his
opinion have been casus belli.,
1t is believed by many thoughttul
people that Providence still rules this
world with merciful hand and that
leaders of men appear at opportune
times, while those who would act,
mischievously at critical times are
-7,egated to the rear to make room
or others with more level heads. The
0,pular vote of 1912 showed that the
nited States did not want Theodore
oosevelt to fill the Presidential
chair again, while a large majority
did want Woodrow Wilson as the
chief executive. The latter became
President at all opportune time, and
his diplomacy has made his country
"lookon" during the great war, main
tanning it's dignity in the meantime.
Since the German Army entered
Belgian territory last year Mr.. Roose-
Welt has been contending in season
and out of season that it was the
duty of the United States to declare
war upon Germany for its violation
of Belgian neutrality, which, he says,
was guaranteed by the Hague Con-
ventf6n.~T The 'United States was e
party to that convention, he contend
ed, and failure to enforce it was re-
pudiation of a contract and shame
full surrender.
The New York Sun, has repeated
ly called upon Mr.. Roosevelt to point
out the particular section o. article
of the convention which justities or
warrants his denunciation of Presi-
dent Wilson for not precipitating war
upon Germany. Mr.. Roosevelt has
never complied with this most rea-
sonable request.
Another gentleman. however, Mr.
Maurice Leon, writes to the Sun and
endeavors to point out the justltlca-
ton of Mr.. Roosevelt's campaign
against the President. But Mr. Leon
admits that another clause of the con-
vention provides that the cause CIT
ed by him which guarantees the metz
trali.y of Belgium, is not binding un-
less all the belligerents are parties to
the convention, Serbia is not party
TO the convention and Serbia IS
belligerent. Mr.. Leon also overlookS
, clause in the convention to which
the Sun calls attention and which
nullifes completely the contentious
both of Mr.. Roosevelt and Mr.. Leon.
II is this: When the United States
entered into the negotiations with
the powers and signel The Hague
Convention. it was with the express
understanding. reSeIVellol an" H''
fication that nothing contained III
this convention shall be construed as
to require the United States to de-
mart from its traditional policy oil
not intruding upon interfering with
or entangling itself in the poiltica'
questions of policy or Internal aG-
ministration of any foreign state.
Belgium was buffer state between
England and Germany. England Is
vitality interested in preventing the
annexation of Belgium to Germany
and German is still more interested III
preventing it's annexation to England.
But the United States has no practl-
cal interest in the affair beyond j
sentimental sympathy.
And so the Sun concludes that III
the case of Belgium President wilson
has omitted no actioh,a required OF our
Government by any engagement un-
dertaken at The Hague.
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