The Kootenai herald. [volume] (Kootenai, Idaho) 1891-1904, 1895-02-16
European Powers BehinG a Game
of Modern Diplomacy.
THE SCHEME WAS ALL RIGHT
Cnder the Cloak of Arbitration Pro
posals the United States Would
lie Made Helpless.

Washington. Feb. 1O.-The recent
visit to Washington of Mr.. Cremer.
the British member of parliament who
was charged with presentation to our
government of a memorial signed by
his colleagues in parliament urging 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 a prop
osition has taken tangible shape in a
radical joint resolution submitted by
Senator Sherman 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 ad-
vocates of the scheme, it has served
it's purpose of forming a basis of con-
sideration by the committee.
But meanwhile negotiations have
been opened, as yet only preliminary
in nature, between our government and
Great Britains ambassador that will,
it is said, if ii results in the consumma-
ton of a treaty. be fraught with grav-
est consequences so far as the United
States is concerned. In it's present
shape the proposition is extremely
broad, though it may be narrowed as
negotiations progress, for it contem-
plates nothing less than great general
treaty, to which the United States and
the great European powers shall be
parties, by the terms of which any mat
! ter in dispute between any of the sigma
tory powers, which can not be adjusted
shall be submitted to arbitration. There
1 l. ,rta ff.,1 u 10
proposition which has been discussed
for years in various shapes, but the fact
that negotiations have actually begun
and that it is at last really within the
reach of possibility has had the effect
to draw the attention of certain sena-
tors, who must pass upon any such
treaty to the grave consequences that
might be expected to follow it's ratifica-
ton.
For instance, it has been urged that
the Monroe doctrine, upon which our
predominance in this hemisphere de-
ponds, would be speedily dismissed as
of no force in an arbitration. Each OF
the signatory powers would be repre-
sented upon arbitration commission
and as the European powers would b,
largely in the majority, there could b,
but one result should any question b,
submitted involving the application o
this doctrine, to which they have neve
subscribed and have tolerated becaus
aware of the ability of the United State
to maintain it against a single power
Another objection which has been ad
vanced is that an arbitration treat,
would absolutely deny the right of rev
olution, and this might be a very seri
, Gus matter. In the event that Canad
should cast off allegiance to Grea
Britain it would probably be impossi
BILE for this country to recognize he
independence, much less assume do
minion, even upon the unanimous ap
plication Of its people.
OF late years the major part of ou
negotiations with European power
l has been made up of the settlement G
e difficulties growing out of our insistenc
1 upon the recognition of the citizenshi
t of naturalized Americans. Upon thi
. issue the United States is at varianc
( with almost all of the European cour
- tries, which have found it essential I
. the maintenance of their great system
|. of enforced military service to deny tn
= right of eXpatiation of their subject
I and if such a question We're submitte
Y to arbitration the United States woul
n certainly be defeated in it's contentio
i and there would be no safety for oil
naturalized citizens anywhere outsiC
L of the United States These are a fe
of the difficulties that at present hes,
d" the pathway of negotiations leading
a general arbitration treaty and it
, doubtful if they can ever be overcom