The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1897-01-14
ARBITRATION TALK.
Senators in No Hurry to Ratify
the Treaty,
EFFECT On THE MONROE DOCTRINE.

One Senator Declares That the Treaty
Might Interfere with This Government
In Its Attitude Toward Cuba ~ The
Treaty WIN Require Long consideration
WAsHINGTON, Jan. 14-The senate com
mittee on foreign relations yesterday had
under consideration the general arbitra-
ton treaty recently negotiated between
the government Of this country and that
Of Great Britain, but 10 did not reach any
decision as to the proper disposition to be
made Of it. The committee found the
subject of tho treaty n of such vast pro.
portions as to render any speedy DISPOSE
ton Of 1t out of the question.
The meeting served to develop the fact
that the committee is a unit in favor Of
the general principle of arbitration be-
tween nations, but it was made evident
that each in dividual was likely to have
his own ideas as to how this desired result
should be attained.
There has been more or less discussion
concerning the treaty, and some %specula-
ton as to its ratification. A member of
the committee on foreign relations stated
that the subject was so vast that it was
necessary to give the matter very close
consideration before any action should be
taken, and that in the examination of it
there were possibilities not known which
might cause a man to change his mind
many times, He said that until he could
give the matter such attention as the sub
ject demanded he would not be quoted
upon the matter. He said that one phase
might be instanced At present there
might not be anything in view to arbi-
trate, yet after general arbitration had
been agreed upon any number of I'M
known cases might be presented by one Of
the parties and numerous claims pre-
sented, which were unheard of, might be
brought forward. These unknown guam
titles might be a serious objection to
making any definite agreement.
Senator White, of California, says that
he would support the treaty, if at all, be-
cause it was for a short period and largely
experimental 1t might be that the ex-
pertinent would prove successful, but he
feared that in every contention. that would
arise some new principle might arise
which it might not be good policy to sub
NIT to the tribunal proposed in the treaty.
He said some question relating to the
Monroe doctrine might arise, and that
question the United States would not care
to submit to arbitration.
Announcer case lnstanced by a senator
who has given the subject some thought,
was Cuba. Under certain conditions the
United States might desire to take action
regarding the island and assert the Mon
roe doctrine. The European powers,
Great Britain included, might dispute the
right of the United States under the Mon
roe or any other doctrine to interfere, and
the latter, so far as Great Britain was con-
cerned, must go to arbitration. Reference
was also made to the Monroe doctrine
resolutions now pending in the senate, in
which the declaration was made that the
United States reserved the right to decide
when the doctrine applied.
The discussion yesterday indicated that
the treaty would require long considera-
ton, and the opinion was expressed that
it might be ratified through the influence
of the peace societies and kindred organi-
cations who felt that such a treaty might
prevent war in the future.