Evening star., 1897-01-22
JUDGE EDMUNDS. VIEWS.
The Ex-senator From VermOnt Favor
the Arbitration Ireafx

DR. Charles c. Harrison provost of the
University OF Pennsylvania. recently wrote
To ex-senator Geo F. Edmunds asking his
views III reference to the arbit IA ton treaty
with Great Britain. which is now pending
in the Senate. Mr.. Harrison received the
following reply:
PHILADELPHIA. January 20 1897 ..
Ny Dear Sir: 1 have yours of yesterday
concerning the arbitration treaty and am
very willing TO answer Your inquiry if my
"ihhl"n Is OF any interest to you. The three
principal criticisms of the treaty are:
FHsIThat it commits this government
10 Sh'Hltdng to arbitration questions that
may dSse in connection with the Monroe
doctrine. With sincere respect for the gen.
tl"mrn wno.it is said have suggested This
objection. | think that it is quite unfounded
ana thai those who have advanced it must
nav iAiitd to observe the careful language
uSefi in Jhe treaty
The words upop which tho cri,icisn, .,
hdS@t are found in article ", as follows:
MI otner matters in difference in respect
oi winch either of the high contracting
parties shall have rights against the other
nhdef the treaty or otherwise What then
ar" rights against the other? In the
theory of the municipal state and of all
It's autonomy the rights of one citizen
against another are essentially and ex-
'iESiN-ly those things that the law of the
stale enjoins IDon each in regard to the
other This is the whole definition
Precisely the same is true in interno-
tionat law and the centuries of intercourse
between nations. On thisI believe all writers
On natural law and international law agree
To Illustrate these propositions: L take
4 thJt the United States has no rights
against Great Britain in regard to her oper-
%ltoh- IN, Abyssinia, nor would she have
any rights against us II we were 10 at
tempt TO share in the partition of Africa
In the case of Turkey. il we were to seize
th- whole OF Asia Minor and establish
pear- ard order there las the British have
done III substance. in Egypt We should
have invaded no right of any power ex-
c"pt Turkey. The same is of course true
In rsSrect TO our relations and conduct
with III" states OF the western hemisphere
under the Monroe doctrine or under any
adopt.
III vas. then. the clear and perfectly un-
d"rstooI distinction between the rights OF
one nation against another and their inter-
esiS and policies in regard to other nations
that doubtless led TO a separate treaty in
regard to the Venezuelan question. for both
go.et nmenls knew that the affair could 7 OF
possibly come within the scope of the gen.
cral treaty You Will see. therefore that
the phrase OF the treaty which Is criticised
IS the most apt possible to mark the boun-
dary OF arbitration. and that it leav IS the
Monro" doctrine unaffected.
Th. second objec ton Is the fear that II q
treaty may affect our attitude in regard to
the Nicaragua canal. in which the interests
OF lhC nited States are so deeply concern
cd W hat 1 have already said disposes of
that sOlicitude- 1 have not time to go into
"details about it,
'fh" third and last objection I have
heard is the supposed danger OF leaving II
10 any European power to name an umpire
In certain contingencies. 1t is enough to
say that. so far as our considerable ex-
peri"nce has gone in such matters We
hav" never had occasion to complain of
Inc action Of any sovereign in naming an
umpire or in deciding dispute. In the
great arbitration treaty of 1871 We agreed
that three members of the Geneva tribunal
Should he named by three soyereIgns-two
of them Europeans-and that II any or all
Of these sovereigns should fail to name
these members. the King of Sweden should
name them all. And. in the same treaty
W. did not hesitate TO submit the very i'm
portsnt question OF our boundary on the
Paciih' coast TO the Emperor Of Germany
1 2n an intense supporter of the Mon
To" doctrine. believe the building of the
Nicaragua canal under the auspices of the
Init"i States to be of urgent necessity
beii"Ve most earnestly in international ar
titrdtiou to the utmost extent that civilized
just and self-respecting nations can GO
and ! most earnestly hope that the Senate
VIII rat:fy the treaty II is proposed as
the hrSt step-very great and auspicious-
toward he attainment of peace among ma
lions.
VERY sincerely yours
- GEORGE F. EDMUNDS"