Evening star., 1897-01-25
THE ARBITRATION TREATY
A Fear That It is Loaded in the Interest of
England.
Senators Want Opportunity for Full
Examination of Every Provision
Some of the Objections Made.

what they say about the arbitration treaty,
the reasons governing those opposed to
speedy action by the Senate may be gath
cred from the current gossip
There is a fear that the treaty is loaded
in England's interests, and this grows as
well out of the general history of England
as out of the personal history of Lord
Salisbury. for whom Sir Julian Paunce-
fote held the pen in signing it. Several
senators discuss Lord Salisbury with as
much freedom appreciation. They re-
gard him as the first of foreign diplomats
They point out that he received his train
ing under Lord Beaconsfield, who was any,
thing but an apostle of peace in his day.
Lord Salisbury attended his chief to the
famous Berlin conference, where peace
was secured but under a very distinct
notice by England that she was prepared
for war If war was to be the game. These
senators are reluctant to accept Lord Sails
bury as an apostle of peace. Nor are they
willing to accept Mr.. Olney as a match FOR
him in any delicate or important negotia-
tons. They even distrust their own ability
Tor the business. To be entirely safe
therefore. they want full time for going
over, item by item. the whole instrument,
% ana Tor rejection as to all possible conse-
quences of its ratification. Lord Sails
1T ry Is an old hand at the bellows. They
consider themselves and Mr. Olney as
green in comparison with him.
The Monroe Doctrine.
There is likewise suspicion that this
treaty is connected directly with the agree
ment reached in the Venezuela matter:
that, in effect, Lord Salisbury demanded
the one in exchange for the other This
-dea is displeasing to senators, for it ap-
pears to involve the Monroe doctrine which
they hold can never be made the subject
of arbitration with Great Britain or any
other power They desire the fullest light
on this point, and they complain that they
are not in the way to receive it. Mr.. Olney
spent but short time with the foreign re-
lations committee, and the members
complain, treated the subject vaguely and
unsatisfa ctorily. Some of them thought he
appeared to guard it, as If he We're not so
very clear about the matter himself
Effect of Church Influence
1t is d question how far church influences
will affect sentiment in the Senate. Those
influences are being brought to bear, and
will probably grow stronger from time to
time. No senator speaks but with respect
Of the churches. but some of them doubt
if the churches are altogether safe guides
In these practical matters of state. 1t
is recalled that in the case of Armenia both
Congress ard the President had to resist
the policy which the churches warmly ad
vocated toward Turkey. War, these sena-
tors say, would have followed the adoption
Of that policy, with possibility of the
embodiment of the whole of Europe. So
that, IN the case of this treaty the desire
for its ratification as drawn must not pre-
vail simply because it is expressed by the
churches. The business is for the state.
If the treaty is ratified all measures looking
to its enforcement must come from the
state.
Nothing but Sentiment.
There are senators who refuse to see any
thing more than sentiment in the treaty.
I'm described SNOWY ma loon
which Mr.. Cleveland is trying to fly at the
close of his term to attract attention from
his Diplomatic failures. Another senator,
when asked his opinion of the treaty, smiled
and replied: "A colporteur's dream the
wonder of an hour
Considered by the Senate Committee.
The Senate committee OF foreign rela-
tions today had the arbitration treaty un-
der discussion, but the discussion was al
most wholly upon it's bearing the Me
aragua canal The committee had read the
Clayton -Bulwer treaty; also all treaties and
agreements between the United States and
Nicaragua and Costa Rica relating TO the
canal. The letter of Minister Rodriguez
PRESENTED to the Senate on Friday, in which
| the Nicaragusn government protested
| against the present canal bill before the
/ Senate. formed the basis of discussion.
| ffis led to talk of what the real situation
| was in regard to the concession and the
/ canal anu the rights Oh the MdF1llNne Cdn2l
| Company, as well the rights of the
| United States.
| Several senators seemed to be of opinion
| that the Nicaragua canal might be serious
| ly affected by the treaty, and the deter
| mination of the committee seemed to be to
| go to the bottom of the question before TAX
| ing up other portions of the treaty. Sem
! ator Morgan took an active part in the dis
| Cussion; being chairman of the Nicaragua
| canal committee and in charge of the bill
| before the Senate, his views We're presented
| al some length and with much earnestness
| The Alabama senator insisted that the
| canal situation must be settled before the
| treaty could be ratified.