The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1895-02-11
THAT Arbitration SCHEME
How England Wants to Iron
Uncle Sans Soldiers
Mr.. CREMER'S MISSION
Some Serious Objections Made to the
Proposed Plan
Mr.. CREMER'S
The latter Now Before Congress in the Shape
Of a Resolution Authorizing the
President to Act.

Washington, Feb 10.-The recent visi
to Washington of Mr.. Cremer, the British
Parliamentarian, 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
project which had rather Jagged since the
introduction 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 Re-
lations fully authorizing the President to
move in the matter. While this resolution
has not been entirely acceptable to the adj
vocates of the scheme it has served its pur
pose of forming the basis OF consideration
by the committee. But mean-
while negotiations have been opened,
as yet only preliminary in nature,
between our Government and the British
Ambassador that will, it is said, if they
result in the contamination OF treaty,
be fraught with the gravest consequences
so far as the United States is concerned.
In its present shape the proposition is
extremely broad, though it may be mar
rowed as the negotiations progress, for 1T
contempates nothing less than 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 dispute between any of the
signatory powers, which cannot be
adjusted by the ordinary methods OF
diplomacy shall be submitted to arbtra-
ton.
b There is nothing substantially new in
this proposition, which has been discuss
ed for many years in various shapes but, the
fact that negotiations which have actually
begun and is at last really within the
reach OF possibility has had the effect to
draw the attention of certain Senators who
must pass upon any such treaty to grave
consequences that might be expected to
follow its ratification, For instance, it
upon which our predomin-
ance in this hemisphere depends,
would be speedily dismissed as
of no force in arbitration. Each of the
signatory powers would be represented up
on the arbitration commission and as
the European powers would be largely IN
the majority, there could be but one re-
suit should any question be submitted in
volving the application of this doctrine to
which they have never subscribed and
have tolerated only because of the ability
of the United States to maintain it 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 a serious matter. In the
event that Canada should cast off allegi
ance to Great Britain, it would probably
be impossible for this country to recognize
her independence, much less as the Do
minion, even under the unanimous appli-
cation of the people. OF late years the
major part of our negotiations with Euro
pean powers has been made up of the set
clement of difficulties growing out of our
insistence upon the recognition 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 expatriation to their subjects, and
if such question were submitted to arbi-
tration, the United States would be GER
tainly defeated in its contention, and
there would be no safety for our natural
lied citizens anywhere outside of the
United States.
These are few of the difficulties that at
present beset the pathway of negotiations
leading to q general arbitration treaty,
and it is doubtful if they can ever be over
come.