The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-04-09
ROOSEVELT WON'T TELL
WHAT HE'D DO IN MEXICO
Can't Answer Hypothetical Questions in Newspapers
but Quotes From Message to Congress
and New Biography.

OYSTER BAY. L. l., April s.-Col.
Roosevelt said to-day, In reply TO the
questions put TO him IN the editorial
columns Of THs SrN that lie couldn't
answer h,po,hctica, questions in cdi-
torials.
Tie went on to say. however. that
a correct judgment Of what he would
have done with regard to Mexico and
Germany. IL he had been President now,
can be formed from what he actually
did when he was President.
The questions which TIE Sun asked
OF Col. Roosevelt were
I. Wha. would he have done in
Mexico? What would he do In Mex
leo II he were President now and
conditions through no fault or blunder
Of hts own, were what they are to-
day?
:. Would he regard war in Mexico
rs jus, war? II so. would he
use every cApedient' to avoid even
that just war And What expcdients
would he use"
3. What would he have done with
regard to Germany" What would he
=
rine policy IL he were President now
and the international situation. through
no previous omission or mistake on
MS own part. was what II In to-day?
=. Would he regard war with Ger
many as "a Just war: II no. would
lie now he using every eXpedient" to
avoid even that just war: And what
cApcd!cnts would he now he using?
THE SuS has asked me certain ques-
tions." said the Colonel this afternoon
In the library OF his home. where sa;
former Secretary Of the Navy George
Won L. Meyer and Charles q. washburn
Of Worcester. Mass. "it is impossible
for me TO answer hypothetical questions
IN editorials. II did II in one case I
should have to do II in hundreds OF
cases.
stands on Old Record.
Nor ~ there any need OF thinking
what | would do in hypothetical cases
correct judgment can he formed by
taking what I actually did during the
seven and half years I was President,
and If any man has forgotten how
handled international matters during
that time let him turn to Mr.. Hard's
article In the current number OF the
Metropolitan Mdgdstne, and IL any man
has forgotten what my attitude As Presi-
dent was on the subject OF preparedness
here the Colonel got up from the
swivel chair in front Of his desk and
walked over to corner of his study y
books-"le, him turn to Mr. Charles ~
washburn's recently published biography
OF me. pages s6 to i0s. and particularly
TO the quotation from my message 10
Congress given on pages i0s to los."
The Colonel. back at his desk. Was
lingering the book. II bears the title
Theodore Roosevelt. the Logic Of His
Career" and on the paper cover OF II
appears the face OF the Colonel. below ii
the catchword. "A new and intimate
biography" Let me read to you IN,
message to Congress" said the Colonel
turning TO page lo7 OF the book. ne read
Il advocate that the United States
build navy commensurate with ~
powers and its needs. because fee
that such navy will be the sures
guarantee and safeguard OF peace. Il
ls idle 10 assume, and from the stand
point OF national interest and honor Il
Is mischievous folly. or has come within
measurable distance of the stage when a
proud nation. jealous of it's honor ant
conscious ~ It's great mission in Tho
world, can be content to rely for peace
upon the forbcarance OF other Powers
1t would be equally foolish TO rely upor
each OF them possessing at all times All,
under all circumstances and provocation'
an ai,ruisiic regard for the rights o.
others
Belgiun,'s plight Foreshadowed.
Belgium" declared NJ. Washburn
interrupting.
Exactly" agreed tho Colonel.
"And let me read" said Mr., Wash
burn. taking a copy OF his book from thu
box and standing up. what ! wrote
, This recommendation OF four battleship'
WAS no, adopted by Congress. ] voted
to sustain the committee which favored
two, and the views then expressed b,
Roosevelt excited only languid interes
among the people OF the country--ex
cepting where they aroused sharp con
dennation. But. be II observed. th'
arguments used by Roosevelt in 1908 ar
the arguments which in 1915 are beini
urged from every platform where ma
: tional defence In discussed and by tkos'
| who have been very recent converts Il
! the cause. The policy now advocated
/ by Roosevelt i, what il mas Away
been. ..
That's right" put in Ny, Meyer +"
! remember
Then Col. Roosevelt read andher ex
tract from his message To Congress a
! quoted in the book. Some OF the excerpt
! alluded to were
ITO provide for but one or two battle
Z ships a year is to provide that this ma
, tion instead OF advancing shall go back
| ward in naval rank and relative powe
among the great nations. Such cours
would he unwise for us II We frohte
merely on one ocean, and II " doubl
/ unwise when we front on two oceans
l earnestly advise that Congress no,
provide four battleships Of the most ad
vanced type. cannot too enphaticall
say that this IL a measure of peace an
not OF war. ] can conceive of no Gil
| cumstances under which this republ
would enter into an aggressive war
most certainly. under no circumstance
! would IL enter into an aggressive wa
TO extend it's territory or In any oths
manner seek material ACKNOWLEDGMENT.
weak Nations Perils.
TO any public man who knows G
the complaints continually made to I'll
State Department there IL an element {
grim tragedy in the claim that the tim
has gone by when weak nations {
peoples can be oppressed by those tina
are stronger without arousing effecti,
,rcte.ts from other strong interest