The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1917-06-25
u. s. EXPLAINS
ITS ENTRY INTO
THE WORLD WAR
Official Publication of
Events Calls Allied Cause
League of Honor.
THREE BASIC REASONS
America Stands for Monroe
Doctrine, Freedom Of Seas
and Arbitration.

WASHINGTON, June 24.-This Govern
ment through the Committee on Public
Information has issued Red. White
and Blue" paper explaining how it came
TO enter the war. How the War Came
10 America Is the title Of the pamphlet.
which is marked with the colors. Strict
ly speaking IL Is not a diplomatic docu-
ment Of the kind usually issued by for
eign Governments. 1t contains no diplo-
matte correspondence. But its complete
exposition Of the motives actuating this
Government IL believed to have been pre-
pared under the direction Of the Presi-
dent and is therefore significant.
"A league OF honor is what the allied
cause Is called in this pamphlet. which
seeks TO show why the American atti-
tude OF neutrality was abandoned. Speak
ing OF this nations pre-war attitude
toward International questions IL says:
"On the eve OF the present conflict our
position toward other nations might have
been summarized under three heads:
The Monroe Doctrine We had
pledged ourselves TO defend the New
World from European aggression and
We had by word and deed made 1t clear
that We would not intervene in any
European dispute.
Freedom of the Seas.
The Freedom OF the Seas-In every
naval conference our influence had been
given TO support of the principle that sea
law to be Just and worthy OF general re-
ta nac sb> -
the governed.
"Arbitratlon-As We had secured peace
at home by referring interstate disputes
to Federal tribunal We urged a similar
settlement of international controversies.
Our ideal was a permanent world court.
We had already signed arbitration
treaties not only with great Powers
which might conceivably attack US. but
even more freely with weaker neighbors
She equality OF all nations both great
and small. We had made plain to the
nations our purpose 10 forestail By every
means in our power the recurrence of
war in the world"
insisting that this Government used
every resource Of diplomacy" 10 force
the German Cove nment to abandon its
submarine warfare. the pamphlet then
reviews the acts Of the German Govern
ment. In this connection IL discloses
that the President had actually begun
his peace note before the German peace
proposal.
The following is part Of the text OF
How the War Came to America:
In the years when this republic was
still struggling for existence. in the face
OF threatened encroachments by hostile
monarchies over the sea. in order 20
make the New World safe for democracy
our forefathers established here the
policy that soon came 10 be known as the
Monroe Doctrine.
Warning the Old World not to inter-
fere in the political life OF the New. our
Government pledged itself in return TO
abstain from interference in the politi-
cal conflicts of Europe: and history has
vindicated the wisdom of this course
We were then too weak to influence the
destinies Of Europe, and II was vital 10
mankind that this first great experiment
in government Of and by the people
should not be disturbed by foreign at
tack.
Reinforced by the experience OF our
expandfng national life. this doctrine has
been ever since the dominating eiemen;
in the growth of our foreign policy.
Whether or not we could have main
tained IL in case of concerted attack
from abroad, II has seemed OF such i'm
portance to US that We were at all times
ready to go TO war in its defence.
And though since II was first enun-
ciated our strength has grown by leaps
and bounds. although in that time the
vast increase IN our foreign trade and
OF travel abroad, modern transport. mod
ern mails. the cables and the wireless
have brought US close TO Europe and
have made our isolation more and more
kwx,a uty ~ thAra has hsan until the ntls.
break of the present conflict small de-
sire on our part to abrogate OF even
amend the old familiar tradition which
has for so long given US peace.
Reamrmation at Hague.
In both conferences at The Hague in
1899 and 1907, we reaffirufed this policy.
Our second great tradition In inter
national relations has been our persist
ent effort to secure stable and equi-
table agreement of the nations upon
such a maritime code as would assure
10 all the world a Just freedom Of the
seas.
This effort was born OF our vital need
For although II was possible for the
republic to keep aloof from the nine
teenth century disputes that rent the
continent OF Europe. We could not be
Indifferent TO the way in which war was
conducted at sea.
There has been in our diplomacy one
more outstanding aspiration. We have
constantly sought 10 substitute tucicial
for military settlement of disputes be-
tween nations.
The genesis OF this idea dates from
the discussions over the Federal or
carnations OF our thirteen original
States, which were almost as Jealous Of
their sovereignties as are the nations OF
Europe to-day. The first great step
toward the League Of Honor. which We
hope will at last bring peace 10 the
world. was taken when our thirteen
States agreed 20 disarm and submit all
their disputes TO the high tribunal OF
the new federation,
Efforts Not without success.
We have taken a particular pride in
being in the vanguard Of this movement
for the peaceable settlement by process