THE ARBITRATION TREATIES 
complete and rapid recuperation. Not- 
withstanding that only a remnant of the 
once mighty fur-seal hosts now exists, 
the outlook for the preservation and 
restoration of the herd is more propitious 
than at any previous time (see p. 1149). 
This optimistic view is based on the 
facts that the seals are now receiving 
what they never before had but always 
needed, namely, continuous scientific 
supervision on which the conduct of the 
1165 
commercial features of the business will 
depend; that the fixed policy of the gov- 
ernment is to administer the affairs of 
the seal islands with due regard for the 
mutual interests of the seal herd and the 
public, and that the sole and now gen- 
erally recognized cause of the present 
decline, namely, pelagic sealing, is by 
an international convention altogether 
eliminated for 15 years and possibly for 
all time. 
THE ARBITRATION TREATIES* 
By Wititi1am Howarp Tarr 
PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES 
opening of this conference of the 
Society favoring an international 
arbitral court. I believe this to be an 
ideal which, when realized, will offer a 
practical solution for the difficulties now 
presented by universal armament. 
Europe is an armed camp. Each na- 
tion feels that it cannot in justice to its 
people, or with safety to its integrity, 
avoid expending money enough on its 
army and navy to prevent its dissolution 
should international controversies arise 
| AM very glad to be present at the 
that could not be solved otherwise than. 
by war. Repeated attempts have been 
made to secure a lessening of armament ; 
they have failed because each nation says 
to the other, “Well, you do it first.” The 
consequence is that to any one charged 
with the responsibilities of government 
under present conditions, armament is a 
necessity. 
I have been engaged for some time in 
preaching peace—and preaching it just 
as hard as I can; but I have got to recom- 
‘mend to Congress the appropriation of 
money enough to have an armament that 
_ shall meet existing conditions. 
SHALL WE FORTIFY THE PANAMA CANAL? 
For example, the question presents 
itself: Shall we fortify the Panama 
Canal? There are those who are so 
much interested in peace, and who be- 
lieve in it so much as a sign, as a symbol, 
that they think the suggestion that the 
Panama Canal ought to be fortified is 
inconsistent in the mouth of one who 
advocates peace as strongly as I do. But 
it is one thing to look forward to an 
ideal, and it is another thing to meet 
present conditions. My own impression 
is that he who proceeds practically to a 
reform is much more likely to accomplish 
it than he who sacrifices everything to a 
name and to a fetish. 
We are not seeking war by fortifying 
the Panama Canal; we are not going to 
fight anybody on account of fortifying the 
canal. But we built the canal as part of 
our coast line and to double the efficiency 
of our navy, and if we should now neu- 
tralize the canal, it would give the same 
facilities to our enemy in attacking our 
shores as we enjoy ourselves, which is 
to lose half the value of the canal as a 
war measure. Hence J am in favor of 
fortifying the Panama Canal, preventing 
its use by the enemy, and of using it our- 
selves in self-defense. In other words, 
we must use common sense in dealing 
with every problem. A position like this 
which recognizes present conditions is 
not inconsistent with pressing forward 
_ *An address to the American Society for Judicial Settlement of International Disputes, 
Cincinnati, November 7, 1911, and specially revised by President Taft for publication in the 
Nationa, GkEocGRAPHIC MAGAZINE. 
