Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-07-22
COL. ROOSEVELT ARGUES FOR prep AREDNESS FOR
WAR AND URGES UNIVERSAL MILITARY SERVICE ON
MODEL OF SVlITz AND--MAkES BEL GUM EXAMPLE

sunk primarily because for genera
lions the moral fibre of the Chinese
people has been closely eaten into by
the doctrines Of the professional paci-
fists. so that she has shown herself
incapable during the last thirty years
of preparing herself against war and
for seif-defenSe.
Probably the worst feature OF our
national life is the habit OF using
words with no relation to facts. OF
making promises which are not to be
kept; as I have said above of treating
eiocution as an adequate substitution
for action. This habit has worked
particular damage to us IN tnterna-
tional relations. and most OF all in
connection with the arbitration
treaties. peace conventions and tho
like into which we have entered. We
can accomplish nothing real for in
ternational peace until we understand
that it is disgraceful not TO make our
deeds square with our words. and
therefore disgraceful to make a prom
Use which we either ought not to or
cannot keep.
During the past year or so this ma
ton has negotiated some thirty all
inclusive peace treaties by which it Is
agreed that if any issue arises. no
matter of what kind. between itself
and any other nation. it would take no
final steps about it until a commits
sion OF investigation had discussed
the matter for year. This was an
explicit promise in each case that II
American women we're raped and
American men murdered. as has ac-
tualIy occurred IN Mexico. or Alnerl-
can men,. women and cnlldren
drowned on the high seas, as IN the
case of the Gulfiighr and Lusltania. or
if foreign power secured and fortl-
fed Madda!ena Bay or the Island of
ST. Thomas we would appoint COM
mission ana listen to a years con-
versation on the subject before taking
any action.
England and France entered into
these treaties with us and We begged
Germany TO enter into one: ana although
Germany refused. YET if we were right
IN entering into them with England and
France. we deprived ourselves OF moral
justification in refusing TO fulfill their
spirit as regards Germany. Personally.
I believe that it was absolutely neces-
sary when the concrete case arose 70 re-
pudiate the principle 20 which W. lad
thus committed ourselves. But il was !
shameful thing to have put ourselves in
such a position that II mad 10 be rep l.
diared ana Il was nexcusabie Of US to
decline to follow the principle IN the
case Of the Lusitanla without II the
same time making frank Confession OF
our error ami misconduct BY notifying
all the powers with whom We had al
ready made the treaties rhat they were
Withdrawn. because IN practice We had
found il impossible and improper 70 fol-
low out the principle 10 which they COM
mitted us.
In the same way, let the individuals
VINO advocate disarmament say clearly
lust w1at they mean. II this nation is
10 disarrn. that is. il it is 10 take the old
Chinese attitude about preparedness for
war. then it must be prepared 10 adopt
the Chinese attitude of helpless submits
sion to any conditions which foreign
powers TO choose 70 impose. Let it be I'M
derstood that under such conditions If
disorder continues in Mexico We snail not
object to some European or Asiatic
power taking possession of Mexico or
any part OF it and then doing what IL
chooses there. Let il be understood that
If IN such case some power wishes TO
take possession of the Panama Canal.
We shall not. because we are not able to.
raise any effective protest. These are the
things that disarmament means. for dis
armament would represent merely the
Chlnalicauon Of this country.
It advocate preparedness against war
as the best type OF peace insurance.
Preparedness for war may be not only
the best but the only corrective for the
spirit OF militarsn. Switzerland is the
most democratic of republics. and the
least nilitarsuc: and yet relatively TO
its size it is the one best prepared
against war
preparedness is not the affair Of a
day. If we begin at once. a year or two
must e!apse before we shall have ac-
compished even a beginning We should
do what Switzerland and Argentina, for
example, have already done. They now
have universal military service in Ar
gentina. The Argentine army is a great
deal more fiji to uphold the Monroe doc
trine south of the Equator than our
army, and in spite of its high average of
individual efficiency and because Of its
lamentable smaliness, is lit TO uphold
the Monroe doctrine north of the Equa-
tor.
Drawing to the conclusion of his adj
dress. Col. Roosevelt urged increasingly
high standards of efficiency in the army
and navy. The Navy he said. should
never be used. as it was so long used in
Mexico waters. for a police work Of
kind that ensures it's deterioration as a
lighting machine. 1t should be kept up
to the highest pitch Of fighting efficiency.
1t should be kept superior to any possi-
bic foe which might attack US within
the limits above set forth.
Our regular army should be greatly
increased in size and render much more
efficiency by yearly maneuvertng in
mass. as we'll as practice in other direc-
tons. Conditions in Mexico are such that
unless the Mexicans themselves come to
their senses and unless we ara content
10 see foreign powers undertake the
regulation of Mexico. we may ultimate
ly have to intervene. Such interven-
ton would represent not real war but a