Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-01-21
ARBITRATION TREATY
srcRErARY oLNEy URGES IT'S RA-
TIFiCATIoN.
SENATOR'S ASK QUESTIONS.
These Indicate nm Antagonism 20
the Convention rs IL stands
Early Action Impossible-The
Monroe Doctrine.


WASHINGTON. January 20. - The
senate Committee on Foreign Relations
listened to Secretary Olney for more
DIAN an hour this morning. The Sec
re,ary who drew the general treaty of
arbitration between this government and
Great Britain. made an elaborate
argument in favor Of the ratification
o. the treaty. as sent 20 the Senate.
Much Of the talk about the committee
table was Of an interlocutory character.
and several senator's, notably Messrs.
Morgan and Davis. asked numerous
questions Of the Secretary, intended to
gather from that official his idea OF the
scope OF the treaty. The questions pro-
pounded indicated quite plainly an anita
eonlsm to the text of the convention.
and the intention OF senators to insist
upon its amendment before reporting
The instrument to the Senate.
Mr. Olney was questioned closely as
TO the general scope OF the treaty, and
stated that it did not include the arbi-
trauon Of the Monroe doctrine. and was
SD understood by this government and
Great Britain. The matters i'm dispute
that would come under the provisions
of the convention were such as might
grow out of treaty rights or under in
ternati0nal law
At the conclusion Of Mr.. Olney's ar
Cument he was asked what objection
there could be TO the insertion of a clause
relative 20 the Monroe doctrine, II both
governments understood the subject
alike. but TO this question, it is under
stood, Mr.. Olney gave no specific answer
No action was taken. and it is init
mated that action cannot possibly be
had for some weeks TO come.
MONROE DOCTRINE.
In celebrating his statement-that the
Monroe doctrine would not come within
the terms of the general treaty Of arbi-
tration-Mr. Olney told the committee
that IL was well understood by the nego-
,tators OF the convention that all ques-
,tions relating to the foreign policy Of
either government We're not intended to
DE included in the terms Of the treaty.
It is understood. however that. when
DRESSED on the subject of the Nicaragua
canal. Mr. Olney said that. if Great Bri-
tain sought TO make an issue on that sub
Iect. growing out of the terms Of the
existinv Clayton Bulwer treaty. il would
probably come within this general treaty,
under that clause which provides for the
settlement of disputes between the two
governments arising under treaties or
otherwise"
The suggestion was made that clause
be put in the treaty relative TO the elimi-
nation OF the Monroe doctrine, so there
could be no dispute on that question in
the future II was also contended that
,.I shp ha in,
Ike manner.
So far as can be learned. Mr.. Olney
made no impression on the committee.
and it Is to-day as firmly convinced as
ever that the convention requires radi-
cal amendment before it is ratified.
II really TO the criticism Of the selection
OF the King Of Sweden and Norway as the
umpire. Mr. Olney said that Article y.
fully provided against any possible mis-
carriage Of justice. in that 1t enabled
either party 10 select another umpire,
either for all cases to arise under the
treaty. or any particular case. Every
thing that could be done to make the
court absolutely impartial and its finding
lust had been accomplished.
NO GROUND FOR FEAR.
Mr. Olnev insisted that there was no
Ground for fear that the Monroe doctrine
,roul1 be attacked 1t had not been men
tioned I'm the treaty. for TO DO so would
have been impolitic and dangerous. Inc
rro,isious Of Article VI, relative 10 the
method of procedure in territorial claims
gave assurance that all the rights OF
this country in any dispute would be care
fnUv Guarded. That article stipuiates that
anv award to be final must be made by
vote of not less than five TO one in
court consisting Of three American jurists
and three English ones. II could not DE
conceived. said Mr.. Olney, that two Amer
leans would ioln the English side of the
court on any question. unless they were
warranted I'm so doing by the facts, ana
the presentation of the case before the
court A five-to-One award, Mr.. Olney
said. guaranteed absolute fairness ana
Justice. and disarmed all the criticism
that had been directed against the con-
yentl0n
CELEBRATION IN ENGLAND.
LONDON. January pa meeting was
held n birmingham to-day to perfect ar
rueemeuts for a suitable celebration ol
the signing Of the general arbitration
treaty between the United States ana
Great Britain Among the speakers was
Mr. G.. r. Parker. United States Consul
al Birmingham who said that the treaty
would undoubtedly be ratified by the
United States Senate, and that the people
of both countries in the mean time must
De- patient Mr. Parker said that he had
recently made a tour of thirteen of the
American States, and had not In the
course Of his travels. seen single trace
O. anti-British feeling
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