“TheundersignedmembersoftheFrenchParliamentaryGroupofInternationalArbitrationandConciliationhavedecidedtotenderPresidentRooseveltatokenoftheirhighesteemandtheirsympatheticrecognitionofthepersistentanddecisiveinitiativehehastakentowardsgraduallysubstitutingfriendlyandjudicialforviolentmethodsincaseofconflictbetweenNations。
“TheybelievethattheactionofPresidentRoosevelt，whichhasrealizedthemostgeneroushopestobefoundinhistory，shouldbeclassedasacontinuanceofsimilarillustriousattemptsofformertimes，notablytheprojectforinternationalconcordknownunderthenameofthe’GreatDesignofHenryIV’inthememoirsofhisPrimeMinister，theDukedeSully。Inconsequencetheyhavesoughtoutacopyofthefirsteditionofthesememoirs，andtheytakepleasureinofferingittohim，withtherequestthathewillkeepitamonghisfamilypapers。”
ThesignaturesincludethoseofEmileLoubet，A。Carnot，d’EstournellesdeConstant，AristideBriand，SullyPrudhomme，JeanJaur閟，A。Fallieres，R。Poincare，andtwoorthreehundredothers。
OfcoursewhatIhaddoneinconnectionwiththePortsmouthpeacewasmisunderstoodbysomegoodandsincerepeople。Justasafterthesettlementofthecoalstrike，therewerepersonswhothereuponthoughtthatitwasinmypower，andwasmyduty，tosettleallotherstrikes，soafterthepeaceofPortsmouththerewereotherpersons——
notonlyAmericans，bytheway，——whothoughtitmydutyforthwithtomakemyselfakindofinternationalMeddlesomeMattieandinterfereforpeaceandjusticepromiscuouslyovertheworld。Others，withadelightfulnon-sequitur，jumpedtotheconclusionthatinasmuchasI
hadhelpedtobringaboutabeneficentandnecessarypeaceImustofnecessityhavechangedmymindaboutwarbeingevernecessary。A
coupleofdaysafterpeacewasconcludedIwrotetoafriend：“Don’tyoubemisledbythefactthatjustatthemomentmenarespeakingwellofme。Theywillspeakillsoonenough。AsLoebremarkedtometo-day，sometimesoonIshallhavetospanksomelittleinternationalbrigand，andthenallthewell-meaningidiotswillturnandshriekthatthisisinconsistentwithwhatIdidatthePeaceConference，whereasinrealityitwillbeexactlyinlinewithit。”
Tooneofmypoliticalopponents，Mr。Schurz，whowrotemecongratulatingmeupontheoutcomeatPortsmouth，andsuggestingthatthetimewasopportuneforamovetowardsdisarmament，IansweredinalettersettingforthviewswhichIthoughtsoundthen，andthinksoundnow。Theletterranasfollows：
OYSTERBAY，N。Y。，September8，1905。
MydearMr。Schurz：Ithankyouforyourcongratulations。Astowhatyousayaboutdisarmament——whichIsupposeistheroughequivalentof“thegradualdiminutionoftheoppressiveburdensimposedupontheworldbyarmedpeace“——Iamnotcleareitherastowhatcanbedoneorwhatoughttobedone。IfIhadbeenknownasoneoftheconventionaltypeofpeaceadvocatesIcouldhavedonenothingwhateverinbringingaboutpeacenow，Iwouldbepowerlessinthefuturetoaccomplishanything，andIwouldnothavebeenabletohelpconfertheboonsuponCuba，thePhilippines，PortoRicoandPanama，broughtaboutbyouractiontherein。IftheJapanesehadnotarmedduringthelasttwentyyears，thiswouldindeedbeasorrowfulcenturyforJapan。IfthiscountryhadnotfoughttheSpanishWar；ifwehadfailedtotaketheactionwedidaboutPanama；allmankindwouldhavebeentheloser。WhiletheTurkswerebutcheringtheArmenianstheEuropeanpowerskeptthepeaceandtherebyaddedaburdenofinfamytotheNineteenthCentury，forinkeepingthatpeaceagreaternumberofliveswerelostthaninanyEuropeanwarsincethedaysofNapoleon，andtheseliveswerethoseofwomenandchildrenaswellasofmen；whilethemoraldegradation，thebrutalityinflictedandendured，theaggregateofhideouswrongdone，surpassedthatofanywarofwhichwehaverecordinmoderntimes。Untilpeoplegetitfirmlyfixedintheirmindsthatpeaceisvaluablechieflyasameanstorighteousness，andthatitcanonlybeconsideredasanendwhenitalsocoincideswithrighteousness，wecandoonlyalimitedamounttoadvanceitscomingonthisearth。Thereisofcoursenoanalogyatpresentbetweeninternationallawandprivateormunicipallaw，becausethereisnosanctionofforcefortheformer，whilethereisforthelatter。Insideourownnationthelaw-abidingmandoesnothavetoarmhimselfagainstthelawlesssimplybecausethereissomearmedforce——thepolice，thesheriff’sposse，thenationalguard，theregulars——whichcanbecalledouttoenforcethelaws。Atpresentthereisnosimilarinternationalforcetocallon，andIdonotasyetseehowitcouldatpresentbecreated。Hithertopeacehasoftencomeonlybecausesomestrongandonthewholejustpowerhasbyarmedforce，orthethreatofarmedforce，putastoptodisorder。InaveryinterestingFrenchbooktheotherdayIwasreadinghowtheMediterraneanwasfreedfrompiratesonlybythe“paxBritannica。”
establishedbyEngland’snavalforce。ThehopelessandhideousbloodshedandwickednessofAlgiersandTurkestanwasstopped，andcouldonlybestopped，whencivilizednationsintheshapeofRussiaandFrancetookpossessionofthem。ThesamewastrueofBurmaandtheMalayStates，aswellasEgypt，withregardtoEngland。Peacehascomeonlyasthesequeltothearmedinterferenceofacivilizedpowerwhich，relativelytoitsopponent，wasajustandbeneficentpower。IfEnglandhaddisarmedtothepointofbeingunabletoconquertheSudanandprotectEgypt，sothattheMahdistshadestablishedtheirsupremacyinnortheasternAfrica，theresultwouldhavebeenahorribleandbloodycalamitytomankind。ItwasonlythegrowthoftheEuropeanpowersinmilitaryefficiencythatfreedeasternEuropefromthedreadfulscourgeoftheTartarandpartiallyfreeditfromthedreadfulscourgeoftheTurk。Unjustwarisdreadful；ajustwarmaybethehighestduty。Tohavethebestnations，thefreeandcivilizednations，disarmandleavethedespotismsandbarbarismswithgreatmilitaryforce，wouldbeacalamitycomparedtowhichthecalamitiescausedbyallthewarsofthenineteenthcenturywouldbetrivial。Yetitisnoteasytoseehowwecanbyinternationalagreementstateexactlywhichpowerceasestobefreeandcivilizedandwhichcomesnearthelineofbarbarismordespotism。Forexample，IsupposeitwouldbeverydifficulttogetRussiaandJapantocometoacommonagreementonthispoint；
andthereareatleastsomecitizensofothernations，nottospeakoftheirgovernments，whomitwouldalsobehardtogettogether。
Thisdoesnotintheleastmeanthatitishopelesstomaketheeffort。Itmaybethatsomeschemewillbedeveloped。America，fortunately，cancordiallyassistinsuchaneffort，fornooneinhissenseswouldsuggestourdisarmament；andthoughweshouldcontinuetoperfectoursmallnavyandourminutearmy，Idonotthinkitnecessarytoincreasethenumberofourships——atanyrateasthingslooknow——northenumberofoursoldiers。Ofcourseournavymustbekeptuptothehighestpointofefficiency，andthereplacingofoldandworthlessvesselsbyfirst-classnewonesmayinvolveanincreaseinthepersonnel；butnotenoughtointerferewithouractionalongthelinesyouhavesuggested。ButbeforeIwouldknowhowtoadvocatesuchaction，saveinsomesuchwayascommendingittotheattentionofTheHagueTribunal，I
wouldhavetohaveafeasibleandrationalplanofactionpresented。
Itseemstomethatageneralstopintheincreaseofthewarnaviesoftheworld/might/beagoodthing；butIwouldnotliketospeaktoopositivelyoffhand。OfcourseitisonlyincontinentalEuropethatthearmiesaretoolarge；andbeforeadvocatingactionasregardsthemIshouldhavetoweighmatterscarefully——includingbythewaysuchamatterastheTurkisharmy。
Atanyratenothingusefulcanbedoneunlesswiththeclearrecognitionthatweobjecttoputtingpeacesecondtorighteousness。
Sincerelyyours，THEODOREROOSEVELT。
HON。CARLSCHURZ，BoltonLanding，LakeGeorge，N。Y。
InmyownjudgmentthemostimportantservicethatIrenderedtopeacewasthevoyageofthebattlefleetroundtheworld。Ihadbecomeconvincedthatformanyreasonsitwasessentialthatweshouldhaveitclearlyunderstood，byourownpeopleespecially，butalsobyotherpeoples，thatthePacificwasasmuchourhomewatersastheAtlantic，andthatourfleetcouldandwouldatwillpassfromonetotheotherofthetwogreatoceans。Itseemedtomeevidentthatsuchavoyagewouldgreatlybenefitthenavyitself；wouldarousepopularinterestinandenthusiasmforthenavy；andwouldmakeforeignnationsacceptasamatterofcoursethatourfleetshouldfromtimetotimebegatheredinthePacific，justasfromtimetotimeitwasgatheredintheAtlantic，andthatitspresenceinoneoceanwasnomoretobeacceptedasamarkofhostilitytoanyAsiaticpowerthanitspresenceintheAtlanticwastobeacceptedasamarkofhostilitytoanyEuropeanpower。IdeterminedonthemovewithoutconsultingtheCabinet，preciselyasItookPanamawithoutconsultingtheCabinet。A
councilofwarneverfights，andinacrisisthedutyofaleaderistoleadandnottotakerefugebehindthegenerallytimidwisdomofamultitudeofcouncillors。Atthattime，asIhappentoknow，neithertheEnglishnortheGermanauthoritiesbelieveditpossibletotakeafleetofgreatbattleshipsroundtheworld。Theydidnotbelievethattheirownfleetscouldperformthefeat，andstilllessdidtheybelievethattheAmericanfleetcould。Imadeupmymindthatitwastimetohaveashowdowninthematter；becauseifitwasreallytruethatourfleetcouldnotgetfromtheAtlantictothePacific，itwasmuchbettertoknowitandbeabletoshapeourpolicyinviewoftheknowledge。ManypersonspubliclyandprivatelyprotestedagainstthemoveonthegroundthatJapanwouldacceptitasathreat。TothisI
answerednothinginpublic。InprivateIsaidthatIdidnotbelieveJapanwouldsoregarditbecauseJapanknewmysincerefriendshipandadmirationforherandrealizedthatwecouldnotasaNationhaveanyintentionofattackingher；andthatiftherewereanysuchfeelingonthepartofJapanaswasallegedthatveryfactrendereditimperativethatthatfleetshouldgo。Wheninthespringof1910IwasinEuropeIwasinterestedtofindthathighnavalauthoritiesinbothGermanyandItalyhadexpectedthatwarwouldcomeatthetimeofthevoyage。
TheyaskedmeifIhadnotbeenafraidofit，andifIhadnotexpectedthathostilitieswouldbeginatleastbythetimethatthefleetreachedtheStraitsofMagellan？IansweredthatIdidnotexpectit；thatIbelievedthatJapanwouldfeelasfriendlyinthematteraswedid；butthatifmyexpectationshadprovedmistaken，itwouldhavebeenproofpositivethatweweregoingtobeattackedanyhow，andthatinsucheventitwouldhavebeenanenormousgaintohavehadthethreemonths’preliminarypreparationwhichenabledthefleettostartperfectlyequipped。InapersonalinterviewbeforetheyleftIhadexplainedtotheofficersincommandthatIbelievedthetripwouldbeoneofabsolutepeace，butthattheyweretotakeexactlythesameprecautionsagainstsuddenattackofanykindasifwewereatwarwithallthenationsoftheearth；andthatnoexcuseofanykindwouldbeacceptediftherewereasuddenattackofanykindandweweretakenunawares。
MyprimepurposewastoimpresstheAmericanpeople；andthispurposewasfullyachieved。Thecruisedidmakeaverydeepimpressionabroad；
boastingaboutwhatwehavedonedoesnotimpressforeignnationsatall，exceptunfavorably，butpositiveachievementdoes；andthetwoAmericanachievementsthatreallyimpressedforeignpeoplesduringthefirstdozenyearsofthiscenturywerethediggingofthePanamaCanalandthecruiseofthebattlefleetroundtheworld。Buttheimpressionmadeonourownpeoplewasoffargreaterconsequence。NosinglethinginthehistoryofthenewUnitedStatesNavyhasdoneasmuchtostimulatepopularinterestandbeliefinitastheworldcruise。Thiseffectwasforecastinawell-informedandfriendlyEnglishperiodical，theLondon/Spectator/。WritinginOctober，1907，amonthbeforethefleetsailedfromHamptonRoads，the/Spectatorsaid/：
“AlloverAmericathepeoplewillfollowthemovementsofthefleet；theywilllearnsomethingoftheintricatedetailsofthecoalingandcommissariatworkunderwarlikeconditions；andinawordtheirattentionwillbearoused。NexttimeMr。Rooseveltorhisrepresentativesappealtothecountryfornewbattleshipstheywilldosotopeoplewhosemindshavebeeninfluencedonewayortheother。Thenavalprogrammewillnothavestoodstill。Wearesurethat，apartfromincreasingtheefficiencyoftheexistingfleet，thisistheaimwhichMr。Roosevelthasinmind。Hehasapolicywhichprojectsitselffarintothefuture，butitisanentiremisreadingofittosupposethatitisaimednarrowlyanddefinitelyatanysinglePower。”
Ifirstdirectedthefleet，ofsixteenbattleships，togoroundthroughtheStraitsofMagellantoSanFrancisco。FromthenceI
orderedthemtoNewZealandandAustralia，thentothePhilippines，ChinaandJapan，andhomethroughSuez——theystoppedintheMediterraneantohelpthesufferersfromtheearthquakeatMessina，bytheway，anddidthisworkaseffectivelyastheyhaddonealltheirotherwork。AdmiralEvanscommandedthefleettoSanFrancisco；thereAdmiralSperrytookit；AdmiralsThomas，WainwrightandSchroederrendereddistinguishedserviceunderEvansandSperry。ThecoalingandotherpreparationsweremadeinsuchexcellentshapebytheDepartmentthattherewasneverahitch，notsomuchasthedelayofanhour，inkeepingeveryappointmentmade。Alltherepairsweremadewithoutdifficulty，theshipconcernedmerelyfallingoutofcolumnforafewhours，andwhenthejobwasdonesteamingatspeeduntilsheregainedherposition。Notashipwasleftinanyport；andtherewashardlyadesertion。Assoonasitwasknownthatthevoyagewastobeundertakenmencrowdedtoenlist，justasfreelyfromtheMississippiValleyasfromtheseaboard，andforthefirsttimesincetheSpanishWartheshipsputtoseaovermanned——andbyasstalwartasetofmen-
