The record-union., 1896-02-19
THE ARBITRATION FALLAoy.

widespread movement ia A4n
favor of the permanent ArDltraploii
Committee experiment for the settle
rnent of all issues that may arise De
tween the United States and Great Brl-
tain.
We had suspected that this new 1ad
was of English birth, and In thaI we
are now confirmed, since 1t appears tnaI
the English movement antedates the
manifestation at Chicago, which was
the first heard of it in this country. IL
is altogether probable that the chicago
group of questions sent out as 1eelers
by a self-constituted committee was
born of English suggestion 1t IS not
a new thing for English greed to organ
tze movements in this country that are
really wholly in the interest of the Eng
aish
The painful thing about this proposed
surrender of our diplomatic independ-
ence is the fact that quite a number OF
prominent American citizens nave
taken up with the new-fangled ldea'
and without deliberation have given 1t
approval. Thus, meetings of prominent
business men, we are told, have been
held in New York and in Philadelphia
for the express purpose Of promoting
the new idea In the former city w. 4.
Dodge appears to be a chief supporter
of the scheme and of course is conscien-
tious of his advocacy of it.
In this State several of the interior
papers have expressed themselves in
favor of the idea, and one, the Red Bluff
News goes SO far as to suggest that
on Washington's birthday the subject
be discussed and organizations formed
to further the scheme. Our contempor-
airy bases its support of the plan upon
the belief that the mass of the people Of
the United States prefer peaceful means
in settling disputes with England, and
thinks it is significant that the people
of England are of the same mind and
are urgently supporting the suggestion
of a permanent committee. The mis-
take of our contemporary resides in the
fact that the question is not one of
peace or war. It is rather a question
whether we shall develop diplomatic
strength and assume an attitude that
will command respect among nations
or whether we shall become the vassal
of England and take our opinions and
positions at second hand.
To erect a permanent Arbitration
Committee between the two nations will
be the practical annexation of the
United States to England. When that
country sees fit to refuse reference of
any question to the committee it will be
at liberty to do so. and there will be no
force that can compel it to other action.
The committee would have, in fact, no
motor behind it; there would be nothing
that could make it's judgment effective
The ultimate resort would be war, pre-
oisely as it is now.
The New York Evening Post" which
can generally be counted upon to favor
an English idea, In supporting the new
proposition warningIy gives its pro-
moters to understand that arbitration
will not mean the submission of all is
sues, for it says, with sneer at the at
titude of the United States on the Vene-
Euelan question:
It means simply that when we have
difference with another Power, we and
that other Power shall submit it to an
impartial tribunal and agree to abide
by the decision. 1t does not mean that
xvhar frvr, nfbny~ pNyrarc haxa ds-p,,+,
we shall force arbitration upon them.
And yet many people talk of arbitration
as though it meant that very thing.
Let US see how this would work We
had a difficulty with Chile a short time
ago. which It would have been perfectly
proper to submit to arbitration It in
volveG question whether the killing
ef an American sailor in a street fracas
was done in self-defense or was an un-
provoked homicide. A pecuniary COM
psnS&tton was demanded by us and was
eventually obtained But what should
we have thought if the Argentine Re-
public had said to us, Chile is our
nsighbor. and we demand that you sub
NIT TO arbitration the question whether
she ought to pay you anything or not
If you do not so submit it, we shall
we will appoint a commission to go to
Valparaiso and see whether you have
any just claim for compensation or not.
We take these steps with the object of
promoting the cause of international
arbitration?" In any such case the
drollery Of the proposition would be its
most taking feature.
Yet, if the promoters of the Chicago
English idea mean anything they mean
that precisely such an issue as is now
uppermost in the Venezuelan question.
should go to such Permanent Commit
tee of Arbitration The Post" how
ever, which is longer-headed than those
who have jumped feet first into advo-
cacy Of this new plan, gives it to be un-
derstood that no such question could go
to such q committee, because the right
of either party would remain unin-
paired to refuse to abide by the COM
pact, thus constituting itself sole judge
OF what might and what should not be
submitted. Clearly, this gives the whole
business away. discioses its holiowness
and proves the non-necessity for pre-
pairing for arbitration in advance of the
development OF issues.
England forever has outwitted us in
diplomacy. and always viii, until we
make that art a study and train states
men as diplomats. With all issues re-
ferred to the committee. we shall never