Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-06-21
Negotiations for Another Arbitration
Treaty.
DRAFT At TIE STATE DEPARTMENT.
Care Taken to Avoid Objectionable
Points.
NOT TO BE SUBMITTED NOW

Acting wnder personal directions from
President Mckinley, arrangements are be-
ing made at the State Department for the
reopening of negotiations for treaty of
arbitration with Great Britain, and the
matter has progressed to stage where a
treaty has been drafted to serve as basis
of negotiations. President Mckinley is ar
ardent advocate of the general principals
of arbitration for the settlement of inter-
national differences, and Notwithstanding
the defeat of the last treaty with Great
Britain he has by means abandoned
hope of the ultimate conclusion of salts
factory arbitration agreement with that
country. In the draft prepared at the
State Department care has been taken to
avoid all the Objectionable points that re-
suited in the failure of the Oney treaty.
Just how this be arranged without
sacrificing the vital principles of arbitra-
ton is not disclosed but the parties to the
work feel that they have succeeded in do
ing so. The treaty will not be submitted
to the Senate before next December. There
is felt to be no urgency and official inti-
ration has been given that as far as possi-
BILE the present special session of Congress
would be devoted to the tariff. Moreover,
the pers rsonnel of the Senate is the same
now it was when the arbitration treaty
was rejected, SO that it is felt nothing will
be lost by allowing some time 20 intervene
DelOfe the question is again brought 10 tHe
attention of the Senate.
The attitude of the Senate toward new
treaty will be fully canvassed and under
stood before the treaty is signed. There
will be no disposition to affix signatures 10
a new treaty until at least reaSona ble as
suranceS are given that a two-thlrd ma
jority of the upper branch of Congress
stands ready to ratify the instrument.
The initiative will be taken by the United
States.
Sentiment of the Senate.
1t is rot expected that the negotiations
will eliminate very speedily. This is a
very uhpromising undertaking at this time.
on account of the disposition of the Sem
ate. Having worked themselves up to the
point CT defeating one such treaty, the un-
dertaking of confronting public sentiment
Is less difficult.
it was unfortunate for the friends of
arbitration that the original treaty should
have been negotiated by the Cleveland all
mlnlstration. The unpopularity of that
administration and lack of confidence In
1t made easier the task of the opposition.
AT the outset the prospects were favorable
to fhe ratification, but with no direct ad-
mlnlstration support in the Senate, and no
organization to carry out policy, the per-
sistent fight of the opposition could not be
successfully met.
In negotiating another treaty President
Mckinley is at the disadvantage of taking
given black eye by those on whom he
must depend to make his efforts successful
by their approval; but 1t is not an entirely
hopeless task. The disposition of republi-
can senators to assist the administration in
carrying out its policies will give to any
treaty Mr.. Mckinley may send to the Sen
ate a strength that was denied Mr.. Cleve-
land.
Moreover those senators who knew very
little about the subject, but were easily in
fiuenced to vote against ratification be-
cause of their lack of confidence in the
former administration, will not be infiu-
eLced by such a consideration to oppose
a proposition presented by President Nc
kinley.
Another advantage of the renewal of ne
gotiations for arbitrat ton at this time, even
if lot apparently very promising of speedy
conclusion, is that il indicates that the
annexation of Hawaii and the Cuban pol
icy are not inspired by spirit Of jingoism.
The fact that an announcement that an
other arbitration treaty is under considera-
tion by the President comes Immediately
after the Hawaiian message Is significant.