New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-01-15
dRBITRA TION NOT ALLIANCE.

Talk about the Arbitration Treaty being an
alliance in support Of the Monroe Doctrine Is
groundless and may be mischievOus. 1t had its
origin, apparently In that fecund source Of
news that IL not so. THE London Chronicle,
and 1t took the specious form of an utterance
attributed to the American Secretary of State.
That Mr.. Olney really said anything of the
sort is scarcely within the limits of SUPPOSE
bty If he did. it must he regretted that In
a moment of ineXplicable indiscretion he should
have done so much to undo the admirable work
he had lust brought to its conclusion Even
such bit Of marplotry could not, probably de-
feat the treaty, because any one Of clear dis
ccrnment and sound judgment can sec for him
self how baseess it Is. Nevertheless such a
saying. attributed without challenge or contra
dctiOn 10 such man, might easily create an
unfavorable prejudice in other lands. both
against this country and against the principle
Of international arbitration which this country
is endeavOring to promote
The fact is. Of course. that neither in the text
nor between the lines Of the treaty is there
single expression that can be construed as even
limiting at an alliance at any support OF the
Monroe Doctrine. In its Introductory clause
the treaty is declared To he the result Of a
mutual desire ''of consolidating the relations of
amty" existing between the two nations. and
of "consecrating the principle Of international
arbitration" Now neither amty nor arbtra-
ton is alliance. Men may be friends without
being partners and they may agree TO settle
their own disputes peaceably without pledging
themselves 10 fight each others enemies. The
same is true of nations. This country has con-
Guided special arbitration treaties with Great
Britain before the present, but there was no
hint Of alliances in them, and neither is there
in this general treaty If any third Power
should imagine there was and Oh that account
should intrigue against the ratification Of the
treaty. it would be meddling with what did not
concern it for a non-exstent cause. IL any one
in Great Britain the United States puts for
ward such notion he is doing one Of the
gravest Of injuries to his own land.
This is not to say, Of course that Great Brit
ain does not cOuntenance the Monroe Doctrine.
On the contrary. there are the best of reasons
for believing that she does recognize it
valid and potent principle Of American policy.
to which the world at large must pay due heed.
1t would be strange if she did not seeing that
she herself suggested that Doctrine and strong
ly approved it at the time Of its PRONUNCIATION,
and that ii has formed the strongest guarantee
against the mOlestatiOn OF her own American
colonies. Within the last year or two her pub
lie men and journals best qualified to speak
for her have expressed unhesitating approval
Of the Doctrine, and that approval has re-
ceived the seal Of highest official sanction in
the now pending Venezuela treaty. But from
all that this Arbitration Treaty is a thing
apart 1t makes no mention of the Doctrine,
nor Of offence and defence. nor Of alliance Of
any kind. 1t provides for the arbitration Of
disputes. simply that and nothing more; and it
Is on that ground alone that II Is to be judged.