St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1892-03-09
The Proposed Treaty of Arbi-
tration Will Be Strongly
Opposed.
Some Senators Bitterly Re-
sent the Idea Of. Ratifica-
ton as CoWapdly.
Reply to Salisbury's Note In
siSts on a Renewal Of the
Modus Vivendi.
Paddoek's Pure Food Bill
Amended and in Shape to
Be Passed.

WASHINGTON, March Sat $3.50
O'Clock this afternoon, the senate, on
motion of Senator Sherman, chairman
of the committee on foreign relations,
went into executive session to consider
the arbitration treaty received today
from the president. There were no
copies of the correspondence showing
the various steps in the negotiations
leading up to the signature of the treaty,
and the presidents letter which came
with the documents was simply one of
transmittal!without suggestion or rec
ommendation. The text of the treaty
was read in full and concise explain
alton of its terms and of the necessities
of the case was made in behalf of the
administration by one of the senators.
When he had concluded there fol-
lowed an animated, but not acrimonious,
discussion of the document. 1t soon be-
came apparent that the treaty was to
receive severe and formidable opposi-
ton in its consideration. This Oppo-
sition took several forms, and there
were at least three different views OF
the subject. On the one hand body
of senators resented bitterly the idea of
ratifying any arbitration treaty. They
held that the right Of the United States
to the waters acquired from Russia was
| beyond question. and that it would be a
cowardly surrender on the part of this
| government for it to consent to submit
| its right to the uncertain decision of
| foreign arbitrator.
The Diplomatic View.
A considerable number of the SEN
| ators appeared to believe that the APP
| proval of the treaty would be distinct
| gain in the diplomatic battle. inaSmuch
| as it committed Great Britain to the
recognition of the fact that the United
States had claim to jurisdiction over
| the waters of Behring sea under the
Russian title, point which she has
heretofore steadily refused to allow. A
| third party thought the treaty should
not be approved finally without the al
dition of clause renewing the modus
| yivendi.
| Some of the senators took the ground
that, while the treaty might be safely
ratified by the senate, the administra-
ton should be instructed, in the
| event of the continued refuS-
| al of the British government
to insure the protection of the
| seals during the course of the arbtra-
ton, to order the vessels of the United
States to seize every offending vessel,
without regard to nationality. They
| announced that if trouble resulted from
the adoption of this course they were
| prepared to fully support the admins
| tration in taking all necessary steps to
! Oi no pffnnt RI the oYictiDV laws nf the
| United States for the protection of the
| seals.
After the discussion had progressed
| in this strain for an hour, on motion of
| the chairman the treaty was referred to
the committee on foreign relations.
Meanwhile the interest of the senators
has been fully aroused, and it is proba-
BILE that when all the documents are re-
ported back from the committee the
struggle will be renewed at the point
where it closed yesterday.