80 ROWE— THE UNITED STATES AS [April 24. 



The farseeing statesmanship of the founders of the republic 

 led to the adoption, as a cardinal principle of American foreign 

 policy, that the United States must be kept free not merely from 

 entangling European alliances, but from any participation in the 

 conflicts then raging in Europe. This principle of aloofness from 

 European entanglements led to the assertion of those principles of 

 American neutrality which, while serving primarily the interests of 

 our national integrity, accomplished the still larger purpose of laying 

 the foundations for the modern law of neutrality. In performing 

 this service the United States contributed toward eliminating some 

 of the most fruitful causes of international irritation, thereby pro- 

 moting the interests of world peace. 



It has been the laudable ambition of successive secretaries of state 

 to continue and to strengthen those traditions which gave to the 

 country a position of such unique power amongst the nations of 

 both eastern and western civilization. In spite of these efforts, how- 

 ever, there is noticeable during recent years a distinct falling off in 

 our international prestige. Little by little, the confidej-^ce of the 

 peoples of Europe and of the American Continent has been under- 

 mined until to-day we find ourselves in a situation which possesses 

 none of the elements of that splendid isolation which so long char- 

 acterized the position of Great Britain and which, if not remedied, 

 is likely to deprive us of the possibility of carrying to a successful 

 conclusion a mission which constitutes the chief glory of American 

 foreign policy during the first century of our national existence. It 

 is, therefore, a matter of real national moment to inquire into the 

 causes which have brought about this change, and to seek a remedy 

 if such exists. 



Of the elements contributing to the present situation, some are 

 of long standing, the cumulative effects of which are now being 

 felt, while others are of comparatively recent development. Amidst 

 the splendid record of achievement during the first century of our 

 national existence there looms up one aspect of our policy which 

 has been a cause of deep concern to successive presidents and to 

 successive secretaries of state. I refer to the inadequacy of our 

 national legislation for the protection of resident aliens. A long 



