Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-01-26
PARIS PEACE CONFERENCE
Senator Davis Relates the History of the
Commission.
Urges the Importance OF Ratifying
the Treaty-EnGland Our Only
Friend I'm the War.

In accordance with the terms of the
agreement for vote on the treaty on the
9th instant the Senate went into executive
session at O'Clock yesterday afternoon.
a sstated in The Star and the entire time
of this session was consumed by Senator
Davis in making a presentation of the his
tory of the Paris conference This presen-
tation consisted largely in the quotation
of the various propositions made on each
side Of the controversy at Paris and while
the speech was thus rendered somewhat
formal 1t received the closest and most
careful attention. A map of the Philip
| pines on a large scale adorned the rear
wall of the Senate chamber, and while IL
was often consulted by senators, Mr.. Davis
made but one reference to il as such.
Speaking outside of the published record
Senator Davis took occasion 20 eulogize the
Spanish commissioners in high terms as
men of exceptional shrewdness and ability.
saying the Americans had found them
armed at all points. Jealous of Spain q
honor and interest and nrenared at all
times to defend her course as long as there
was anything TO defend.
He said the Americans of the commission
had been in constant communication with
the President while negotiating the con-
vention; that he was made acquainted with
all the commiSsiouS movements, and while
! he admitted that there had been apparent
| ly some division of opinion among pub
| liciStS in the United States as to the poll
| icy Of including the Philippines In the
agreement, there had been practically no
other honorable way out of the difficulty.
Many Reasons for Ratification.
AS for himself. Mr.. Davis was willing
from the start to extend our borders so
as To include these islands, because he
believed their acquisition most important
| stride in the advancement of The Ameri-
can nation, comm REALLY and otherwise
! He. with others. was looking forward to
the " oSpective partition Of the vast Chi
| nese empire among the European nations.
and he foresaw that if the United States
| did not secure a footing in the orient such
| as they now have an opportunity to secure
through The terms of the treaty they U1uld
| be most effcctualIy and forever slut out
| from this vast market. ON this account
| there was very reason in the world why
| the treaty should he ratified and ne con-
| tended that few men who WaGii study the
worldwide questions presented as the COM
missioners had ben compelled to study
| them could doubt the expediency of the
move
| He also touched upon the legal questions
involved. contending that there We're Inany
| presidents for the acquisition that we as
nation had the risht ia acquire territory
and that there were no constitutional bar
| rierS.
If we shoEld fail to make good our own
opportunity thus providentially presented
We need. Mir. Davis said expect no favors
from Europe in gaining foothold in the
eastern markets. We need count upUn no
displaE of friendship from Europe in this
or any other matter.
England Our Only Friend.
The European powers were profoundly
jealous of the United States. and the SEN
ator declared that it was a fact that we
had not had one friend on the continent in
our recent struggle with Spain or in our
efforts 10 secure peace favorable to this
country. He intimated that but for Great
Britains attitude there would have been
intervention by the continental powers. In
this connection he referred to the newspa-
per reports from London accrediting him
with an expression favorable to an alliance
OF the United States with Great Britain
and Japan.
He had. he said never advocated such
an alliance for the present, but he would
not say that the time might not come
when such an alliance would be both wise
and necessary for the preservation Of our
rights and prestige He dwelt at some
length upon the favor shown the Spanish
side of the question while the conference
was in progress, and said there was espe-
| cial effort to have the Spanish bonds Sc
cured on the colonies guaranteed by the
Americans. He believed If the Americans
held the Philippines international trouble
would he avoided, but if the contrary
course should be pursued he was most
apprehenSiVe Of the results
In reply TO a question from Senator Hoar
Mr.. Davis said there had been no effort to
put the Filipinos on the same footing with
the CubanS in formulating the treaty He
said the two countries We're very differently
situated. and instanced the demonstration
in Manila harbor as an example of what
might occur in land so distant
Importance of Ratification
Mr.. Davis urged the Importance of favor
able action upon the treaty at the present
session Of Congress. 4 failure to ratify
meant, he argued. continued uncertainty.
renewed encouragement to the insurgent
FilipinOs, possible conflict with them and a
proioneation of the state Of war with much
of its expense if not with its horrors
GEIUFSES OF THE kLONDIkE