The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1916-10-13
The ADVERrlSlk 5 shnl-wEEkLi
The Roosevelt Way

II
walk with heads erect and with non-apologetic
men is much discussed at the present time, because
Of the contrast afforded by the mastery "watchful
waiting of the present administration and the va
rious SLABS in the face we have earned through it.
One of the diplomatic situations in which President
Roosevelt found himself, the handling of which
| stands out in such striking relief with some of our
later ENGAGEMENTS and their handling, that Of
the Venezuelan question. Then we might properly
have gong to war but Roosevelt preserved the peace
and atll1e same time maintained the dignity of the
| In tfeI Gently published Life of John Hay" by
William ksThayer this episode is dealt with. Now
Mr. Rockwell has elaborated the matter in letter
| to the Houghton Mifin Company, the publishers,
his letter throwing further light on what was even
admitted to be a serious situation. which included
the sending of war ships to Venezuelan waters by
Germany and Great Britain. 49,
An advance COW of Mr. Roosevelt's letter has
heen received by The Advertiser 1t epitomses the
Roosevelt diplomacy nicely. The former Presden
writes:
T II speedily became convinced that Germany wa
the leader. and the really formidable party in the
transaction: and that England was merely following
Germany's lead in rather half-hearted fashion
became convinced that England would not bach
Germany in, the event of clash over the matter be-
tween Germany and the United States. but woult
iGenain neutral; did not desire that she should do
more. than remain neutral also became convinced
that GetTaany intended to seize some Venezuela har
Dor and turnityinto strongly fortified place of arms
on tRe~model 81 Kiauchau, with view to exercis-
| ing some means of control over the future 18th
milan Canal and over South American affairs
generally. =, ,-.vH
"For some time the usual methods of diplomatic
intercourse were tried Germany declined to agree
to arbitrate the question at issue between her and
Venezuela and declined to say that she would not
take possession of Venezuelan territory, merely say
ing that such possession would be temporary
which might mean anything | finally decided that
no useful purpose would be served by further delay
and took action accordingly. | assembled our bat
tie feet under Admiral Dewey, Porto RICO, foi
manoeuvres with instructions that the feet should
be kept in hand and in fighting trim, and should h.
ready to sail at hours notice. The fact that the
feet was in West Indian waters was of course gene
rally known; but believe that the secretary of the
navy. and Admiral Dewey and perhaps his chief Of
staff. and the secretary of state. John Hay the
only persons who knew about the order for the fee
to be ready to sail at hours notice ! told John
Hay that would now see the German ambassador
Herr Won Holleben myself and that | intended to
bring matters to early conclusion
| "A few days later the ambassador came to me
talked pleasantly several subjects, and to go
asked him if he had any answer toInake from his
government to my request, and when he said no,
Informed him that in such event it was useless to
wait as long as had intended. and that Dewey would
be ordered to sail twentyf four hours in advance OF
the time had set. He expressed deep apprehension
and said that his government would not arbhrate
! However, less than twenty-four hours before the
time had appointed for cabling the order to Dewey
A..
ty the German Emperor had directed him reques'
me to undertake the arbitration myself. ! felt. and
publicly expressed, great qualification at this out
come and great appreciation of the the Ger
man government had finally agreed to take. Later
received the consent of the German government tc
have the arbitration undertaken by o. Hague Tribu
nal. and not by me-
1.-The German and British governments firmly
counted on our wel-established jeyhsh squashness
and felt they had free hand The Kaiser and
Junker party especially had everything cut and dried
and counted the affair as accomplished The first
time Holleben informed his government that prob
ably Roosevelt's attitude bluff; but second
thought went to his friend Buenz for advice, as B.
knew the American people better than any German
living and was close friend of Roosevelt's (I in
troduced him) and hence good Judge of the situa
ton. Buenz at once assured him that Roosevelt was
not bluftng, and that he could count on his dong as
threatened and that in conversation Roosevelt had
shown that he had an intimate knowledge of thu
strength and condition of the German fleet which
was ...... (then) no match for ours.
"'Holleben was obliged to eat his own words and
telegraph in hot haste to Berlin, where his message
fell like bombshell. You know the rest This re-
suited in Hollenben's being recalled and dismissed
from the diplomatic service. .... When he sailed
from Hoboken not a single member of the diplomatic
corps or German official dared to see him off, Only
Buenz (and y dared to brave official disapproval,