New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-07-22

army Of about one-tenth the size OF
their whole population. This army was
instantly modified and thrown on the
frontiers, and in consequence Switzer-
lands territorial integrity was re-
Spected
But Belgium, alas, had not learned
the lesson which Switzerland had
learned. For eighty years Belgium had
been at peace and had achieved an eX-
traordnary measure of industrial pros
perty. Her people had done funda-
mentally what ours have done. FOR
many years they declined TO prepare 10
defend themselves at all II was con
fidently asserted that the days OF great
wars had passed, and that, anyhow
Belgium was absolutely inoffensive, so
that nobody would invade her. and that
II her territory was threatened WIN
invasion the opinion of the civilized
world would be sufficient to prevent
the carrying out OF the threat; and be-
sides. il was pointed out there were
treaties absolutely guaranteeing Bel
GUM against invasion, and furthermore
IL was explained that The Hague con-
ventions-which we ourselves signed,
but which we Immediately treated as
made to show that our signatures
meant something - made the whole
world guarantors of Belgian territorial
integrity
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
keI /, of treating elocution as an ade-
Quatc substitution for action. This
habit has worked particular damage TO
us in international relations, and most
of all in connection with the arbitra-
ton treaties, peace conventions and
the like into which we have entered
We can accomplish nothing real for
international peace until we under
stand that it is disgraceful not to
make our deeds square with our words,
and therefore disgraceful TO make a
promise which we either ought not to
or cannot keep.
During the last year or so this
nation 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 COM
mission of investigation had discussed
the matter for a year. This was an
explicit promise in each case that II
American women were raped and
American men murdered, as has actu-
ally occurred in Mexico, or American
men, women and children drowned on
the high seas, as in the case OF the
Gulhight and the Lusitania, or If a
foreign power secured and fortified
Magdalena Bay or the island of St.
Thomas, we would appoint a commits
sion and listen to a years converse
ton on the subject before taking ac-
ton.
England and France entered into
these treaties with us, and we begged
Germany to enter into one, and, al
though Germany refused, yet if we
were right in entering into them with
England and France, we deprived our
selves of moral justification in refus-
irg to fulfil their spirit as regards
Germany.
81 advocate preparedness against
war as the best type Of peace insur-
ance. Preparedness for war may be
not only the best but the only cor
receive for the spirit of militarism.
Not the Affair of a Day.
Preparedness is not the affair OF
day. If we begin at once, year or
two must elapse before We shall nave
accomplished even a beginning. We
should 90 what Switzerland and Ar
gentina. for example, have already
done. They now have universal MILL
tary service in Argentina. The Argen-
tine army is a great deal more fit 70
uphold the Monroe Doctrine south OF
the Equator than our army. IN spite
of its high average of individual EN-
cheney and because of its lamentable
smallness, is fit to uphold the Monroe
Doctrine north of the Equator"
Colonel Roosevelt urged increasing
" high standards Of efficiency in the
army and navy. THE navy" he said,
SHOULD never be used, as 1t was so
long used in Mexican waters, for po-
lice work of a kind that insures its
deterioration as a fighting machine.
IL should be kept up 10 the highest
pitch of fighting efficiency. II should
be kept superior TO any possible Zoe
which might attack US within the
limits set forth. Our regular army
should be greatly increased in size
and rendered much more efficient by
yearly manpuvring in mass, as well
as practice in other directions