Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1897-01-14
THE ARBITRATION TREATY.

ODlteu totateH nnu 1Ibht loiihSih bSSN'
careful consideration and prsctic n
test, before Its true nature can BIO clear
~ understood. When the announce
ment first was made, that the terms oil
the treaty he'd been agreed to by the
proper preaentatives Of tho two coun'
tries, 1t was promptly designated as
the grent measure OF this sge. Friends
Of peace hailed 1t as signal victory
for the principles they maintain, mas
much as they considered 1t certain
shat the example set by the two lead
ing powers OF the world would be fol-
lowed by others. This hope may,
however, be doomed TO dieappoint.
ment.
When the Russian minister In
Washington asked for Information ns
to whether the treaty was in the nature
OF an alliance, offensive or defensive,
or both, and Secretary Olney replied
thatlin certain sense l. was, that 1t
was a recognition on the part OF Great
Britain OF our Monros doctrine, tue
important document was held up in
light entirely different from that
in which It was viewed at first. The
question naturally arose, II Great
Britain has agreed to support the
United States In her foreign policy as
Indicated in the Monroe doctrine.
what cor cessionR, what promises have
our government given as an equiv.
aienl? Is the United Estates on the
road to entering the arena OF
European politics and support Eng
land In her claims, Against Russia for
instance? But it appears that there 10
not the slightest ground for anxiety on
this account, for In government
circles in London 1t Ia said to be
denied that Great Britain has by the
treaty bound herself to recognize
the American Monroe doctrine. There
is apparently some Misunderstanding
between Washington and London as
to the nature and effect OF the UNDER
standing entered into, which cannot
fail to operate against the measure
from the outset.
There are those who take the view
that the treaty 10 direct surrender o n
the part of our government OF the
right to enforce the Monroe doctrine.
III Is pointed out that II Great Britain
by purchase. or otherwise, &C.
quires territory in Central or
South Americs, and her right to
doing 30 isquestioned, then the United
StsteH, by the terms OF the treaty, Ia
bound to submit the question to nrbl-
tration, the decision ultimately resting
in the hands OF European monarch,
or his representative. This conclusi ON
seems hardly warranted, though, foI
the treaty provides that In questions
involving territorial disputes, either oil
the contracting parties can protest
against the final decision OF the
tribunal, and this makes 1t in.
valid. The next step is to invite
the friendly mediation OF one
or more powers, and II this fails to set
tie the dispute, an appeal to arms may
be taken. 1t does not deprive the
United States of the right to en!orcs
the Monroe doctrine, but 1t binds both
countries to postpone an armed conflict
until every other means OF adjustment
has proved ineffective. Stiil, 1t cannoi
be denied that war in defense of {
cause q Judicial opinion has declared
wrong would be wsged under add
tional, serious disadvantages. Ant
this fact alone may be by many
considered important enough to deIrac
from the merits OF treaty.
The agitation in the world for peace
is-whatever the merits OF dement's
of the fret practical eforts to secure 1