The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1895-02-11
ARBITRATION TREATY.
1T MAY BE FRAUGHT WITH GRAVE
CoNsEaUEHCEs.
Some of the Objections to the Prop
osition Clearly Pointed Out
Doubtful if They Can be over
come.

Washington, Feb. 1O.-The recent
visit to Washington of Mr.. Cremer, the
British member of parliament, who
was charged with the presentation to
our government of a memorial signed
by his colleagues in parliament, urg-
ing the negotiation of an arbitration
treaty with Great Britain. has resulted
in stimulating interest in the project,
which had rather Jagged since the in
PRODUCTION of the Allison resolution,
some years ago
In Congress, the proposition has
taken tangible shape in a radical joint
resolution submitted by Senator Sher-
man and referred TO the Committee on
Foreign Relations, fully authorizing
the president to move in the matter.
While this resolution has not been
entirely acceptable 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 their nature, be
tween our government and the British
ambassador, that will, it is said. if
they result in the contamination of a
treaty, be fraught with the gravest
States is concerned.
In it's preSnt shape, the proposition
| is extremely broad, though it may be
narrowed as the negotiations progress,
! for it contemplates nothing less than
| a great general treaty, to which the
United States and all of the great
| European powers shall be parties, by
the terms of which any matter in dis
pute between any of the Signatory
powers, which cannot be adjusted by
the ordinary methods of diplomacy,
shall be submitted to arbitration There
lis nothing substantially new in this
proposition, which has been discussed
! for many years in various shapes, bu
| the fact that negotiations have actu
ally begun anG are at last really with
| in the reach of possibility has had the
| effect TO draw the attention of certain
| senators who must pass upon any
such treaty to the grave consequences
| that might be expected to follow it:
ratification. For instance. it has beer
urged that the Monroe doctrine, upoI
which our predominance in this hemi
sphere depends, would be speedily dis
missed as of no force in an arbitration
Each of the signatory powers would b.
represented upon the arbitration com
mission and as the European power
would be largely in the majority Their
could be but one result. should an.
iquestion be submitted involving tn
application Of this doctrine TO which
they have never subscribed and haY
tolerated because only of the abilit,
Of the United States to maintain itsel
against any single power.
Another object which has been ad
Iyanced is that the arbitration treat.
would absolutely deny the right o
revolution and this might be YER
serious matter. In the event that Can
ada should cast off allegiance to Grea
Britain, it would probably be impossi
BILE for this country to recognize he
independence, much less the don1in
lion, even upon the unanimous appli
cation of its people. OF late years tn
major part of our negotiation
with European powers has bee
, made up of the settlement of Difficult
! ties growing out of our insiStence VI
on the recognition of the citizenship c
naturalized Americans. Upon this is
sue the United States is at varianc
with almost all of the European cour
tries which have found it essential t
maintenance of their great systems {
enforced military service to deny tn
; right of eXpatriation to their subjects
and if such a question were submitte
to arbitration the United States woul
, be certainly defeated in its contentio
and there would be no safety for on
, naturalized citizens anywhere outsld
of the United States.
r These are few of the difficultie
: that at present beset the pathway {
: negotiations leading to a general Rlrb
tration treaty and it is doubtful
: they can ever be overcome.