Alexander Hamilton, who wrote Washington's Farewell Address, included teh section on "entangling alliances" witha specific reference to France.
The Democrat-Republicans (Jeffersonians) wished to go to war against England on behalf of revolutionary France.
Hamilton actually supported England over the Jacobins and proposed military action in 1794.
This never got traction, so Hamilton Adams and Washington agreed to support neutrality.
The point was not to reject treaties in principle, only to point out that we were not bound to a treaty to a country that no longer existed (Kingdom of France) and that our national interest had changed. However, there is nothing that says taht the Us can't make alliances when it is in our interests.
rmlew writes, "Alexander Hamilton, who wrote Washington's Farewell Address,..."
:-) Better not let Washington see that! It's true that Alexander Hamilton significantly HELPED Washington write Washington's Farewell Address (as did James Madison). But the sentiments in the address were Washington's, and Washington's alone.
See this website for details:
http://gwpapers.virginia.edu/farewell/index.html
"Throughout the preparation Washington's ideas or "sentiments," as he liked to call them, were preserved. Hamilton knew, as Madison had before him, that whatever he might do in reshaping, rewriting, or forming anew a draft, the results should be "predicated upon the Sentiments" which Washington had indicated. This central fact was adhered to."
rmlew continues, "...included the section on "entangling alliances" with a specific reference to France."
Well, Washington's final version was much broader:
"'Tis our true policy to steer clear of permanent Alliances,[note] with any portion of the foreign World--..."
"Any portion of the foreign world!" That covers pretty much everyone!
rmlew continues, "The point was not to reject treaties in principle,..."
I would say, in fact, that it WAS a point to "reject treaties in principle." Once again, "'Tis our true policy to stear clear of permanent alliances with any portion of the foreign world..." That is most clearly and emphatically rejecting, "treaties in principle."
And there's another fact you've missed. Up until 1949(!) the U.S. NEVER had a treaty of alliance with a foreign country! See this U.S. State Department site for details:
http://usinfo.state.gov/usa/infousa/facts/democrac/49.htm
"Not until 1949, in fact, would the United States again sign a treaty of alliance with a foreign nation."
Since the U.S. never had a treaty of alliance with a foreign nation until 1949, it seems like the true "conservative" position would be not to have an alliance with Israel.
Or South Korea.
Or Taiwan.
Or Germany.
Or Great Britain.
Or anyone else.
The U.S. should return to the wisdom of G.W. (and I don't mean G.W. Bush). The same wisdom that was followed by all U.S. governments, right up to 1949: "stear clear of alliances with any portion of the foreign world."