The morning call., 1895-02-11
THIS COUNTRY NOT FAVORED.
European Powers Would Have Things
ALI Their Own Way.
CREMER'S WORK PROBABLY IN VAIN.
The Proposed Agreement Would Deny the
Right Of Revolution and Jeepardize
the Safety Of Citizens Abroad.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 10.-The recent visit
to Washington of MIR. Cremer, the British
Member of Parliament, who was charged
with the presentation to our Government
of memorial signed by his colleagues in
Parliament urging the negotiation of an
arbitration treaty with Great Britain, has
resulted in stimulating interest in the pro-
ject which had rather Jagged since the in
PRODUCTION of the Allison resolution some
years ago.
In Congress the proposition has taken
tangible shape in radical joint resolution
submitted by Senator Sherman and re-
ferred to the Committee on Foreign
Relations, more freely authorizing the
President to move in the matter. While
this resolution has not been entirely ac-
ceptable to the advocates of the scheme, it
has served its purpose of forming the basis
of consideration by the committee.
But meanwhile negotiations have been
opened, as yet only preliminary in nature,
between OUT Government and the British
ambassador that WILL it is said, if they re-
suit in the copsummation of treaty, be
frought with the gravest consequences so
far as the United States is concerned. In
its present shape the proposition is ex
tremely broad, though it may be narrowed
as the negotiations progress, for it contem-
plates nothing less than great general
treaty, to which the United States and all
of the great European powers shall be par
ties, by the terms of which any matter in
dispute between any of the signatory pow
ers which cannot be adjusted by the ordi
nary methods of diplomacy shall be sub
mitted to arbitration.
There is nothing substantially new in
this proposition, which has been discussed
for many years in various shapes. But the
fact that negotiations, which have actually
begun, and it is at least really within the
reach of possibility, has had the effect of
drawing the attention of certain Senators
who must pass upon any such treaty to the
grave consequences that might be expected
to follow its ratification. For instance, it
has been urged that the Monroe doctrine,
upon which our predominance in this
hemisphere depends, would be speedily
dismissed as of no force in an arbitration.
Each of the signatory powers would be
represented upon the arbitration commits
sion, and as the European powers would
be largely in the majority there could be
but one result should any question
be submitted involving the application of
this doctrine, to which they have never
submitted and have tolerated only because
of the ability Of the United States TO main
tain against any single power.
Another objection which has been ad-
vanced is that the arbitration treaty would
absolutely deny the right of revolution,
and this might be very serious matter.
In the event that Canada should cast off
allegiance to Great Britain it would proba-
bly, be impossible for this country to recog-
nize her independence, much less annex the
Dominion, even upon the unanimous ap-
plication of its people.
Of late years the major part of our nego-
tiations with European powers has been
made up of the settlement of difficulties
growing out of insistence upon the recog-
milton of the citizenship of naturalized
Americans. Upon this issue the United
States is at variance with almost all of the
European countries which have found it
essential to the maintenance of their great
systems of enforced military service to
deny the right of expatiation to their SUBJ
jects. and if such question were SUBJ
mitted to arbitration the United States
would be certainly defeated in its conten-
ton and there would be no safety for our
naturalized citizens anywhere outside of
the United States.
These are few of the difficulties that at
present beset the pathway of negotiations
leading to general arbitration treaty and
it is doubtful if they can ever be overcome