The evening times., 1898-11-30
THE SENATE WILL
RATIFY THE TREATY
Senator'S Generally Relieve That the
e. Terms of the Document Will
Ro

ne
Prompt ratification of the Americ an
Spanish treaty of peace is expected by
the Administration.
From conversations the President has
had with Senators who have called upon
him during the last few days he expects
that there will be little opposition to the
treaty though he has found a diversity
7of opinion as to the future government
and disposition of the Philippines.
1t is expected that the treaty viii be
laid before the Senate just before or i'm
mediateIy after the holidays. AS three of
the American Commissioners who will
sign the treaty are members of the Com
mittee on Foreign Relations, little time
will be consumed by the comm t,tse in
considering and reporting the treat p-cA
+ to the Senatesfor ratification.
Talks with most of the Senators lead
to the belief that the terms OF tn ty
will be generally approved Even IN Sc
who are opposed to holding the Pal p
pifies Permanently believe that the treaty
should be ratified and that the Islands
should then be disposed of as the United
States sees fit. They are disposed TO re-
gard the treaty as an instrument fof the
re-establishment of peace b-tweel the
: two countries rather than as a ca>t-i Oh
agreement binding the United States Il
definite line of policy for the future con-
troll of the Philippines.
In speaking of the treaty Senator For
aker remarked that the main point ac-
complished by the treaty in addition to
the restoration of peace, was that Spain
had been compelled TO relinqush sover-
aip No pbiIinnineS This
said, even anti-expansionists ali agreed
was necessary and as the treaty did not
bind the United States to the future con-
troll of the Philippine archipelago, he did
not see how there could be any serious
opposition to it's prompt ratification. This
seems TO be the general opinion.
Senator Lodge believes the treaty will
be ratified. He added that the treaty Will
either be ratified by the present Senate
or it viii surely be ratified by the Senate
which comes into power after March 4
next.
II do not see how opposition to its
ratification can be justified. Under the
terms of the agreement those opposing
the ratification OF the treaty must take
the uncomfortable position of opposing
a treaty of peace on the ground that the
United States is getting too much from
Spain. They would have the united
States go to war again and spend sew
eraI times 500 900 600 to accomplish what
they have accomplished by the proposed
treaty of peace.
For my part | do not believe one-third
of the members of the Senate will care to
be placed in that position. A rejection of
the treaty simply means resumption of
hOstilities, and ] do not believe the great
( majority of the American people are anx-
ious that more blood may be shed in or
! der TO accomplish what has already been
accomplished by our Peace Commission
ers in Paris 1t is not a question of poll
/ tics, ii is simply question of whether
! Spain peacefully relinquishes possession
! of the Philippines. or whether we take
| them from her by force
Senator Teller said that If the treaty
| provided merely for the REIMBURSEMENT
/ of Spanish sovereignty in the Philippines,
/ he believed it would be ratified during the
| approaching session. If the Commission
! ers went further, and undertook TO bind
! Congress as to the government or DISPOSE
| ton OF the islands, he thought there
would be long debate.
| Senator Chandler, while unwilling to
commit himself at this time on the ques-
ntion OF permanently holding the Philip
! pines, said he did not believe any Senator
would seriously interpose any objection TO
it's ratification. Senator Chandler antici-
pates some delay in the Committee on
/ Foreign Relations, however, and would
not be surprised If the treaty should go
over until an extra session of the next
( Senate.