The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1917-02-22

er nations in any form of league or
alliance or concert, or if you prefer
the more modern language) in any
kind of international organization.
Washington described the policy of
his administration in a letter which
he wrote to Gouveneur Morris IN De-
cember, 1875. My policy, he says,
has been, and will continue to be,
while I have the honor to remain in
the administration of the government,
to be upon friendly terms with, but
Independent Of, all the nations Of the
earth; to share in the broils of none;
to fulfill our own engagements; to
supply the wants and be carried for
them all; being thoroughly convinced
that it is our policy and interest to do
So = The same rule of conduct in re-
gard to foreign nations he commends
as permanent policy in the Farewell
Address, Let us extend our CONNER
cial relations with them, but have as
little political connection as possible.
Here is the classic passage:
Europe has set of primary in
terests which to us have none, or a
very remote relation. Hence she
must be engaged in frequent contro
versies, the causes of which are essen
tally foreign to our concerns. Hence
therefore it must be unwise in us to
implicate ourselves, by artificial ties
in the ordinary vicissitudes of her pol
itics, or the ordinary combinations
and collisions of her friendships, or
enmitieS.
"'Our detached and distant situa-
ton invites and enables us to pursue
.
"'Why forego the advantages Of SO
peculiar a situation? Why quit our
own to stand upon foreign ground?
Why, by Interviewing our destiny with
that of any part of Europe, entangle
our peace and prosperity in the tolls
of European ambition, rivalship, in
terest, humor, or caprice? =
"'Tis our true policy to steer clear
Of permanent alliances with any por-
ton Of the foreign world
'"This passage is not encouraging to
the advocates of international organi-i
cations to compel peace among the ma
tons. And if not by physical COM
pulsion, at any rate by the pressure of
public opinion we Americans should,
and think do, all devoutly desire to
see peace permanently established in
the world. It must be recognized that
in the last half century fluctuations
of the earth have come into closer re-
lations with one another than ever be-
fore, that the welfare of each is much
more Intimately bound up with the
welfare of all than in any preceding
period in the history of the world,
and that the preservation of universal
peace is a matter of individual con-.
cerns toseach member of the family of
nations, America, for instance, being
profoundly affected and it may well be.
endangered by wars in Europe, Asia
or Africa.
This is change brought about
by historical evolution which, of
course could not have foreseen. The
tremendous problem created by it has
not yet been solved. And though,
profoundly sympathize with the OBJ
ect of the proposed leagues and con-
certs to enforce or establish univer-
sal peace am unable to convince my
self that any method hitherto propos-
ed of accomplishing that result will
be found either feasible in itself or
desirable for adoption by the United
States.
perhaps some progress might be
made if we focused attention on the
fact that every nation besides being
exclusive sovereign over its own ter
ritory and territorial waters has also
joint and equal authority with every
other nation on the high seas, which,
as we say, are therefore free to all.
On that actual juridicial basis it seems
to me possible, and indeed probable
that an international structure might
be reared for bringing together the
nations of the world and commission
ing those with naYies jointly to main
Nestrain and punish any ,belligerent
who -infringed on the rights of neu-
trails or violated the established prin-
ciples of maritime international law.
In other words, if you want to pre-
vent war, valinternationalism is the
most hopeful form of attacking the
problem that for the reason that
everys nation shares with all others
joint and equal sovereignty over the
high seas"
But this suggestion of international
naval cooperation for the mainten-
ance of the freedom of the seas and
the integrity of the maritime law of
nations, so far from disposing me to
criticize Washington's policy of alb
stention from participation in Euro
pean politics, only strengthens and
confirms my approval and admiration
of it. It is still true that America
has no interest in the European bal
ance of powert or no concern with the
dynastic, racial and religious strug-
giles or with the territorial ambitions
and other rivalries which lead foreign
countries to attack one another. Eu
rope has complex of political inter-
ests which have only a remote rela-
ton to America. And it would, GER
tainly be most unwise for us gratui-
tously'to implicate ourselves in the |
ordinary combinations and collisions
of her friendships, or enmities.' Our
location, our national in
terests, and our history and traditions
still admonish us to follow the advice |
Of Washington. Why, indeed, should
we to-day any more than in Washing |
toms time 'entangle our peace and |
prosperity in the tolls of European |
ambition rivalship, interest, humor, or |
"a nrice' 2''