The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-01-28
PEACE TREATY TO BE PURGED.
SOME OF IT'S PROVISIONS NOT SAT-
ISFACTORY.

The DESIGNATION of the King of Nor
way and sweden as Umpire 10 he
Eliminated-Thc Nicaraguan Canal
Clause Also Apt 10 BE Left out.
Senators Fear Great Britain May
BE Seeking Pretext to Interfere
In Our Foreign and Domestic
Affairs.
Washington. Jan. 27-The Senate COM
mittee on foregn relation to-day consid-
cred the general treaty of arbitration be-
tween this country and Great Britain,
without reaching conclusions. The gem
eral drift of the discussion indicated that
the instrument must be amended so as
to eliminate any possible inclusion of
questions concerning the domestic or for
eign policy of either of the contracting
parties. 1t is believed by some members
of the committee that conclusion will
be reached at a special meeting Satur-
day. and that the treaty will be reported
to the Senate Monday.
While 1t is believed that the treaty may
be made satisfactory by one or two
amendments, each member of the COM
mittee has his own idea as to the exact
language to be employed in so doing. The
ardent friends of the Nicaragua canal in
sist that in some way, that question be
lifted bodily from the treaty and guarded
against. The fear that Great Britain may
be seeking a pretext to interfere, not only
in our foreign policy, but in domestic
affairs as well, leads others to urge an
i.
affecting either the domestic or foreign
policy of the contracting parties shall
be brought within the provisions of the
general treaty. This 1t Is contended, will
also carefully guard the Monroe doctrine
without referring to it in name
The designation in the treaty of the King
of Norway and Sweden as umpire is caus-
ing the committee much concern and In
looking up the diplomatic history of this
northern cclntry, the committee has dis
covered that a compact exists between
Great Britain and France. on the one
hand and Norway and Sweden on the
other, in which the two great powers of
the south agree TO stand by the weaker
nation. The designation of King Oscar
will, in all probability, be eliminated and
an amendment reported requiring the Sc
lection of an American umpire for Ameri-
can questions and an European umpire
when the matter in dispute relates to af-
fairs in the eastern hemisphere.
1T is understood that when the report on
the treaty is made to the Senate a motion
will be made to discuss II in open session
Some members of the committee believe
that this motion will carry and that it viii
be a good thing for the country to have
this public debate.
The treaty between Sweden and Nor
way on the one hand and Great Britain
and France on the other which is claimed,
forms such a close alliance between the
two governments as to preclude the idea
of fairness, were the King of Sweden to
act as an umpire, was ratified by the two
governments in 1856. 1t binds Great
Britain and France to aid Sweden with
their military forces If necessary in re-
pelllng Russian aggression.
While there is almost universal senti-
ment in the Senate in favor of the prncl-
pie of arbitration, it is quite certain that
the great majority of the Senate is in fav-
or of amendments along the lines that
have been suggested. In such form only,
1t is believed, can the treaty be ratified.
The discussion in the Senate, whether Sc
cret or in the presence of the public,
promises to be somewhat protracted.
Senators on the committee, who have CIV
en- the treaty careful consideration, will
be called upon to expound its provisions,
and throw all possible light upon the sub
ject 1t has been the custom in the past
for the Senate to be guided entirely by the
report of its committee in acting upon a
treaty but in this case there appears TO
be q determination on the part of men,
who have given but little attention to
foreign questions, to know thoroughly
what they are doing before they cast their
vote for the ratification or rejection of
this general treaty of arbitration.