Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-11-17
Probable Inquiry Into the Course Of
the Administration.
THE CHINESE-JAPANESE ARBITRATION
An Opinion That the Executive Has
Exceeded His Authority.
ATTITUDE OF ENGLAND


which will probably first be called to the
attention Of the House at the coming ses-
sion will be the proposed offer of media-
ton between Japan and China. So promi-
nent a lawyer and SO conservative a man
as Beliamy Storer Of Ohio has entered ups
on the consideration of this subject. Mr..
Storer is as good lawyer as the admin
istration has in it's service. He proposes
that the House shall ask the State De-
partment by what authority this govern-
ment, without the direction from Com
gress, volunteers to intervene in foreign
complication, even by means Of arbitra-
tion- There are members of Congress, well
informed as to constitutional and interna-
tional law, who maintain that under our
form OF government, 1t Is not within tho
province OF the executive department,
without the specific sanction of Congress,
to undertake to medat in q war between
foreign powers. Arbitration, II will be
maintained. has it's responsibilities, and ie
Is not so free In this instance from dan.
gerous and serious complications with Eu,
ropean powers, which may not be pleased
with the decision OF the President Of the
United States, that 1t may be lightly en>
tered into. The situation, at all events, n
believed by many Congressman to be "a
serious that 1t is audacious for the execus
tive department to adopt . policy which.
II resisted, 1t would be powsrless to suS
force, and from the dangerous possibik
consequences Of which 1t would be unable
to shield the United States.
1t will be suggested, moreover that the ad.
ministration has not thus far been 20 unIA
formly successful In its foreign policies
that we can reasonably expect to escape
uniform traditions Of the United statU
against "entangling alliances" a. an IN
terVentlon In the contest between twN
great countries Of the orient. with thclr
European allies, may involve
A distinguished member of Consrass
says me administration ought not nov&
to seek to put itself In a position where ri
can maui down any more flags"
The Executive Power.
1t appears that the only treaty proyis.
ion between tho United States and Chine
as to the use of good offices" Is that. In
case any nation act 'unjustly or oppres-
sively" toward China, the United StateS
Will use Its good offices. But there is no.
where declaration that the President OF
the executive department constitutes the
United States. On the contrary. II has
been very strongly maintained by Con.
gress, which is the war-makinR power.
that In all matters relating to foreign
governments where possible complications
may arise, the Congress, and not the ex.
ecutive, Is the United States. The Presi-
dent has not the power to negotiate a trea-
~ with foreign government. He can
only listen to the proposals which a for.
eign government may make, and submit
those proposals, as a clerk or secretary
would do in the first instance, to the
senate or the United States. and, subse-
quently. II approved. to the House of Rep
resentatives, in proposition for an en-
abling act Equally, IL not more restrict.
ed. Is the power Of the President as to
any international matter which touches
in any way upon the war-making power
of the government.
And, some Of the congressional LAWYERS
say, the latest phase which the State De-
partnent has given to this negotia fon.
that China directly asked the intervention
OF the United States alone. in accordance
with the terms of a treaty between the
United States and China, does not relieve
the administration from the necessity OF
consulting the treaty-making power Of
this government before entering upon any
policy that could not with honor be abane
doned. II 1t should be disapprovcd by the
Congress, which is so soon to assemble.
In fact, the statement that the movements
proceeds from China alone is likely to
compicate the situation; for already the
question is asked whether IL is not prob
ably the fact that the application OF
China was inspired by the British foreign
office, and whether the reason why COM
munication with China is so swift and
easy, when news from Japan is SO greatly
delayed Is due to the fact tLat the dis
tancc lciween the British emb1ssy aud
the State DepsI tment in this city is less
than a mile.
As to British influence.
II the report which Is now current shall
be confirmed, that British influence dome
mates this whole matter. and that Great
Britain speaks in her own interest through
our State Department, in favor of Chine
and in hostility to Japan, the situation may
be greatly complicated. The tail-twisterH
in Congress have not all disappeared frond
public life. They would resent such a sitaS
alton, II 1t should be found to exist, and
they would have behind them a very larg1
following in this country of people Wild
would regret to see the influence of the
United States, as represented only by the
President and his cabinet, exerted to Grips
pie or to humiliate Japan, which represents
the best type of eastern progress and civ-
ilization transplanted to the islands of the
orient.
These are sentiments which one hears
expressed as to the Chinese-Japanese situ-
alton by men who have the right to be
heard upon this subject5 and who, In their
places in Congress, Will insist that If the
administration has become the ally or
China and the tool of the British foreign
office in this matter, the President should
be informed that he does not represent the
feelings Of the American people and that
he will do well to take lesson from his
own rejected Hawaiian policy.