Omaha daily bee., 1897-06-23
ANOTHER lRBITKITtON TRE1TY.

"
ANOTHER ARBITRATION TREATY.
1t is announced that the admniStra-
ton will endcavor to negotiate another
arbitration treaty with England, the
draft of Il new treaty. it is said, having
already been made under the direction
OF the secretary of state. 1t is well
known that President Mckinley is
strongly in favor of international arbi-
tration. He said in his inaugural adj
dress that arbitration is the true method
of settlement of international differences
and urged the senate to act favorably
upon the treaty then before it. "The
importance and moral Influence of the
ratification of such II treaty. said Mr..
Mckinley, "can hardly be overcstimated
in the cause of advancing civilization
1t may well engage the best thought of
the statesmen and people Of every coun-
try and / cannot but consider it for
tunatc that II was reserved to the United
States to have the leadership in so
grand work" This counsel. however,
had no influence with majority of the
senate.
Whether or not another arbitration
treaty, negotiated by the present ad
mnistration, would have Il better fate
is problcmatical. Undoubtedly the hos
tility of some senators to the Cleveland
administration had a great deal to do
with the failure of the treaty it npgoti-
ated and these senators, or Il portion of
them. might be willing to vote for the
ratification of a treaty negotiated by
the present administration. But in view
of the uncertainty respecting the fate of
II now treaty, will the British govern
ment be disposed to enter into another
negotiation? VIII it not ask, before ac-
cppting our invitation for Il renewal of
negotiations, for some assurance that Il
convention agreed upon by the represent
ativCs of the two governments will be
likely to he ratified by the senate and in
that event who can give the assurance?
Certainly the British government would
be justified ir declining to take the
chances of another treaty being rejected,
perhaps because of the enmity of certain
senators toward England or on the pre-
text that some provision was more
favorable to Great Britain than 10 the
United States. 1t is we'll known that
number of senator's have such n hearty
| hatred of England that it would be
| hardly possible TO induce them to favor
an arbitration treaty. however fair and
| just in it terms, while others are so dis
| trustful of the British government that
| they suspect something sinister in every
thing that government suggests or as
| SentS to- 1t is these classes in the
sGnate-thc one actuatcd by hatred and
the other by distrust-who are re-
Sponsible for the failure of the Olney-
Pauncefote arbitration treaty and there
can be no assurance that they would not
be found as dcterminedly hostile to au-
other treaty. even though it should
avoid. as it is said will be DONE the main
objections to the former treaty.
Nevertheless the administration will
have the approval of the better senti
ment of the country if il shall make an
other effort to secure n treaty for gen
cral arbitration between Great Britain
and the United States. Indeed it can
be easily understood that the president
may feel it to be his duty to do so. 1t
is unQueStionabe that the rejection of
the arbitration treaty was against the
| intelligent and conservative public Opin-
ion of the country and if President Nc
| Kinley believes this to be So as very
| likely he does, he should give the friends
of international arbitration-G principle
| the United States has always contended
for-another opportunity to assert them
selves. One defeat should not be allowed
| to permanently settle the fate of so i'm
| pOrtaHt Il cause.