The Fargo forum and daily republican., 1918-12-19
The League of Nations

The following excerpts are from a copyrighted
article in the January Metropolitan Magazine, by
theodore Roosevelt:
Without question there is a general desire for
some kind OF international agreement or union
or league which will tend to prevent the recur-
renee, or at least to minimize the scope and the
horrors OF such hideous disaster to humanity
as the world war which is now closing In COM
mon with most OF my friends 1 strongly share
this feeling.
II the League OF Nations is built on a docu-
nent as high sounding and meaningless as
the speech in which Mr.. Wilson laid down his
fourteen points it will simply add one more scrap
TO the diplomatic waste paper basket Most Of
these fourteen points could be interpreted to
mean anything or nothing They were absolute
~ true to the traditions Of the bad old diplomacy
for any nation could agree to them and yet re-
serve the right to interpret them in diametricaly
opposite manner to the Interpretation that others
put upon them.
Therefore in forming the league let us face the
facts. whether pleasant unpleasant, and let
us show good faith with ourselves and with
every one else. The first fact is that nations do
not stand on any real equality, and that at this
moment are not treating them. A couple
of years ago Hayti and San Domingo were two
little Independent republics. According to the
principles Mr.. Wilson has publicly laid down
they much entitled to the right of self
determination as the United States or France
and all our dealing with them should have been
frank and above board. But in practice Mr.
Wilson conquered them, killed large numbers or
their people, deprived them of self determination
and kept the action and the reason for the action
absolutely secret. During the same period, in
dealing with the affairs of China, huge but
pacifist power, unarTned and helpless, Mr. VIII
son made his most important agreement ABOUT
this peaceful republics future not. with China
at all but with the Empire OF Japan p
As Mr. Wilson practices only secret diplomacy
we cannot tell what his justification for these
various actions may be. But 1t is Of course obvious
that IL would be absurd to include in a league
of nations countries like China, Mexico. Hayt ana
San Domingo, make believe equality with
the United, States and Japan And there are
dozens of other countries which stand in the
same category. Moreover, there are some very
big nations whose recent action would make
reliance any of their promises PROOF or
feeble intellect on our part. Most certainly Ger
many and Turkey ought TO sit on the nourners
bench good many years before we ADMIT tnen mem
year would make any international guarantee or
action her part worth precisely nothing as
warrant for promise action on our part.
Therefore let us begin by including in the
league cnly the present allies, and admit other
nations only As their conduct perseVered IN
through a term of years warrants 1t. Let us eN-
p1tcitly reserve certain rightsto our territorial
possessions to our control OF immigration ana
citizenship to our fiscal policy, and to our han
to be questioned and not to be brought before
any international tribunal AS regards impotent
or disorderly nations and peoples outside the
league let us be very cautious about guarantee
ing to interfere with on behalf of them where
they lie wholly outside our sphere or interest,"
and let us announce that our own sphere or spe-
cial concern, in America (perhaps limited TO
north or somewhat near the eduator), Is not TO
be infringed on by European or Asiatic powers.
Moreover let us absolutely decline any dis
armament proposition that would leave us help
less to defend ourselves. Let us absolutely
refuse to abolish nationalism; on the contrary,
let us base wise and practical internationallsIn
on a sound and intense nationaltsm. Ihere IS
not and never has been the slightest danger OF
this country being militaristc or q menace TO
other nations. The danger is the exact reverse
Keep our navy second to that of Great Britain
Introduce universal military training; say nine
months with the colors for every young man
somewhere between. tho ages OF nineteen anu
twenty three, with extra intensive training LOT
the officers, and non commissioned offlcerss ana
preliminary work including especially technlca
Industrial and agricultural training, or the most
sixteen to eighteen. We would thereby secure
an army which would never be desirous OF an
offensive war; and its mere existence would De
the best possible guarantee that we would never
have to wage an offensive war Prepare IN ao-
vance the material necessary for the use or our
first line when called out; don't forget that we
were able to fight in this war only because our
allies gave us at the battle front the necessary
cannon tanks, gas machines. aiTplanes ana ma
chine guns-for until almost tho END or tne war
we had practically ncne Of our own on the rght-
ing line. In
Let US go into such league. But let us weigh
we'll what we PROMISE; and then train ourselves
in BODY and soul to keep our promises Let us
treat the formation Of the league as an addition
tn hrt In no sense as a substitute for preparing
our own strength for our own defense. AND let
us build genuine internationalism, that is,
genuine and generous regard for the rights OF
others on the only healthy basis:--a sound ana
American nationalism Our steady aim must be
to 10 juRtce to others and to secure our own
nation against injustice; and we can achieye
this twofold aim only If we make our deeds
square with our words.