La Junta tribune. (La Junta, Bent County, Colo.) 1881-1939, 1916-05-20
ROOSEVELT AND PEACE.
Rooscveits Record rs Practical
Pcacemaker Established by Doc
umentary Proofs.

Roosevelts record for internation-
al peace while he was president Is
that OF practical peace maker.
During his seven and half years in
the White House he pursued one
straight, consistent policy of inter-
national willard prepared
ness. While he was president not an
American rifle was fired in war.
Yet, there were seven critical oc-
casions, when a presidential diplo-
macy just bit less firm, Just word
less friendly, might have let us into
war. Roosevelt handled each case
so astutely that at the time the pub
lie did not fully realize the danger.
Since he left the White House the
records have been fully brought to
light, and We have reason to wonder
at what we escaped. Here is the
record One Peace Victory n year;
won by diplomacy.
Great Britain.
The first was with Great Britain,
who, after the Klondike boom.
claimed long strip of coast running
south from Alaska. In Canada, feel
ing ran high. Roosevelt sent troops
to occupy the territory, but he kept
the question out OF congress and
avoided public discussion which
would have started hot words on
both sides.
After long negotiations he persuad-
ed Great Britain to submit II to a
and three British. thus giving the
British fair chance to inspect and
judge their own claim. The result
was that the Lord Chief Justice of
England. one of the British Com
missioners voted with the Ameri-
cans Thus Roosevelt produced
peace. fostered friendship-and kept
the Alaskan strip.
Germany.
Venezuela defaulted In her debts
to Germany and several other Euro
.
many persuaded some of these pow
ers to join her in blockade OF Ven
ezuela, and proposed to land troops.
Roosevelt pointed out that such n
landing would violate the Monroe
Doctrine. and proposed arbitration.
Germany refused. Then Roosevelt
sent a quiet, verbal. unpublished
message to the Emperor that. unless
he consented to arbitrate. Dewey's
fleet would sail In forty-eight hours
to defend Venezuela The Emper-
or's consent came In thirty-siN hours.
with an invitation that Roosevelt act
as arbitrator. Roosevelt publicly
praised the Emperor's magnanimi-
ty. but turned the case over TO The
Hague Tribunal of Arbitration. The
public knew nothing of the secret
ultimatum I'LL years later when The
Life of John Hay was published.
Thus. Roosevelt defended the Mon
roe Doctrine. kept peace. saved the
iiaisers pride. and made America
respected.
California was ablaze against the
! japanese, excluding them from her
schools. and protesting against cool
Z ie immigration. But our treaty guar
anteed both these privileges TO the
japanese. Roosevelt here showed
his decpes, skill For California. he
secured 'gentlemen's agreement
with Japan to keep the coolies mt
home For Japan. he brought legal
suits To restore the school privileges
to japanese children. Japan reallz-
ed Roosevelt was her friend and
took pride In doing the graceful
/ thing. California was satisfied.
War had been openly discussed In
Japan. but the menace melted before
Of Rooseyelts prompt and fair action
Then. lest any foreigners should fan
cy that our friendly diplomacy was
inspired by weakness, Roosevelt or
dered our whole battlefield to sail
around the world. making n cordial
call on Japan. Such round-the-
world cruise by n full and equipped
flee, had never been made before.
Roosevelt did this In face OF great
opposition Mt home. Hut the world
saw It's meaning OF preparedness. ia
pan saw. and respected.
Santo Domingo. Cuba. Colombia.
Morocco.
Santo Domingo. rcvolutIon-torn.
defaulted In her debts. and there was
danger of European Intervention.
Roosevelt quietly persuaded her to
ask for nm American official TO r.