Speech #660053715

And then the President appeals to the Senate of the United States to join him in overturning the American policy of 140 yearsi in undermining every influence with other nations which that policy has created and maintained. in deadening the influence of American patriotism here at home. in rendering obsolete the word patriotism in our vocabulary. in joining this Nation. now possessing the confidence. respect. and admiration of the people of the other nations. won through so many years of travail and toil and struggle and sacritice. in a bond of alliance. hard and fast. with the very selfish nations who have caused our conduct to stand out in such brilliant contrast. in a council where our freedom of action hereafter will be controlled by the vote of eight of these nations referred to by the President. whose administration of colonies or new countries or more intimate contact with other peoples have led such other people to expect only exploitation and selfish administration. I have referred to our treaties inaugurating and pursuing our American policy from the days of 1782 down to the present time. but I have not nor shall 1. attempt to enumerate or discuss these various treaties in detail. I think. however. that the people of the United States who (1o not understand what has been the trend of our former negotiations and who are now being assured that this present proposed treaty will create tile dawn of a new international era of peace should understand once for all that this country has 25 or more arbitration treaties with all the great and small civilized countries. that under the terms of these treaties we submit to arbitration all questions which may arise involving construction of treaties or points of international law. or any other meatter or matters of dispute whatsoever. excepting always the Monroe doctrine and purely American questions. such as immigration and the rights of third parties. Hearing. as they do. that this proposed treaty provides for the settlement of international disputes. the people of the United States who have not given thought or study to the subject might think that the Wilsonian era has indeed inaugurated a new policy in the history of this country. Arbitration treaties exist now not only between this country and other nations but between practically each of the other nations. one with the other. and a general Hague arbitration agreement was signed and ratified by practically all the civilized countries of the world.