新托福阅读材料： oosevelt and the World.docVIP

新托福阅读材料: Roosevelt and the World 小马过河为大家准备了“新托福阅读材料：Roosevelt and the World”， 供各位备考托福的考生们参考使用，来提高自己的托福成绩！免费咨询电话：400-0123-267 　　Roosevelt and the World 　　Roosevelt believed that the great powers should supervise their own areas 　　of the world. Where the superior nations had conflicting interests, he advo- 　　cated a “balance of powers.” In practice this meant that the United States 　　would support the weaker of two nations in order to maintain an equilib- 　　rium. Roosevelt also believed that his increasingly powerful nation had an 　　obligation to further world peace. During his administration American diplo- 　　mats played an active role in international conferences for the first time. The 　　president himself was an enthusiastic participant in world affairs. 　　In 1905, Roosevelt intervened in the Russo-Japanese War, persuading both 　　sides to attend a peace conference at Portsmouth, New Hampshire. The treaty 　　that emerged recognized Japan’s territorial gains, guaranteed the Open Door 　　in Manchuria, and earned Roosevelt the Nobel Peace Prize. 　　In December 1907, Roosevelt sent the nation’s sixteen battleships, the “Great 　　White Fleet,” on an unprecedented, fifteen-month, 45,000 mile voyage around 　　the world. This show of force appeared to be a message that the president 　　was not to be bullied. (Roosevelt said later that he was principally trying to 　　impress the American people, who were less than enthusiastic about play- 　　ing a strong role in world affairs.) The fleet’s reception in Japan was friendly, 　　and relations between the two nations improved. This seemed to confirm 　　one of the president’s favorite adages: “Speak softly and carry a big stick, 　　you will go far.” 　　In the Root-Takhira Agreement of 1908, the United States and Japan agreed 　　to maintain the status quo in the Pacific, to respect each other’s territory, and 　　to retain the Open Door (equal privileges among nations trading with China). 　　It would not be long, however, before America would lea