St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1892-03-26
PEACE WILL PREVAIL.
Senator'S Engage in Lengthy
Discussion Of the Arbi-
tration Treaty.
Ratification Seems Certain,
Despite the Opposition Of
Western Men.
British Liberals to Attack
Lord Salisbury's Policy
in Parliament.
A Hostile Collision Is Not
Feared in England--A Re-
freshing View.

WASHINGTON, March 25.-The senate
today spent two and half hours in the
further consideration of the Behring
sea arbitration treaty. As a result the
discussion has nearly reached conclu
sion, and vote is expected to be taken
OH the motion to ratify the treaty some
time next week. In fact, there did not
seem to be any sufficient reason why
action should not have been taken today
although it was represented that in view
of the small attendance of senators
towards the close of the session it would
be better to defer the vote until next
week. The discussion has established
a strong probability that the treaty will
be ratified.
The senators who oppose it as whole
are very few in number, and find their
| principal representative in Senator Eel
ton, of California. His opposition to
the treaty is based upon the idea that it
contemplates possible surrender of
absolute rights acquired by the
United States from Russia. But the
most formidable opposition to the ratifi-
cotton of the treaty is made up OF men,
bers who believe that it should be ac-
c0mpanied bya resolution asking the
president to withhold the exchange of
final ratification until Great Britain
consents to renew the modus vivendi.
Ratification Certain.
1t has been represented by the men,
bers of the foreign relations committee
that the adoption of such q resolution
would defeat the treaty, for Great Brit
ain would never consent to be placed in
the attitude of renewing the modus
viyendi through fear OF the results.
These representations have had such
effect that today it was made to
appear from the trend of the debate
that the treaty will ultimately be rati-
fled without any such condition. There
is, however, still another element in
the senate that seeks to follow the rati-
ticatioh of tie treaty with resolution
iDdOrsing the Presidents action up to
this point and asserting strongly the
purpose OF this government TO protect
its property in the seal islands at all
hazards pending arbitration.
This element appeared today to have
gathered strength, and it may be that
when final action is taken upon the
treaty some such resolution will be
adopted, although large number of
senators feel that it will be unnecessary
to do this. as the president is already
fully satisfied that he has the
hearty support and co-opera-
ton of the senate. Notwithstand-
ing all of the discussion had today. the
treaty remains technically unchanged
in its position. and the advancement
that is to be recorded is in the approach
made towards a conclusion of the de-
bate. The efforts to maintain secrecy
continue, and there has been talk III
executive session of another inveStiga
ton into newspaper methods.
Preparing tiae Case.
The officials at the state department
charged with the duty of preparing the
case of the United States for the arbi-
traitors on the Behring sea controversy
are busily engaged these days. Gen. j.
| w. Foster is in almost constant confer
ence with Frank Partridge, the solicitor
| Of the department, and J.Stanley Brown.
| who visited the seal islands last
! year as special agent of the government,
| and Evan Petrotf, who was special CEN
| sus agent in Alaska, have joined ProfS.
| Mendenhall and Merriam, the Behring
sea commissioners, in aiding Gen. Eos
ter in preparing and arranging the
data upon which this government
will present and rest its case.
The cabinet meeting today was not
exciting, hardly interesting in news
sense. There was nothing to do in the
| Behring sea matter, and it was dis
cussed only informally. There was no
truth IN the rumor which found cir
culation during the afternoon that
Lord Salisbury had replied to the
presidents note of the 22d, the
last in the correspondence recently pub
| lished. Likewise cabinet officer
states there was no truth in the state
ment published in New York this morn
ing to the effect that the Russian minis
ter had notified the president that his
government would increase the Russian
| fleet in Behring sea.