Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1903-12-09
WANT NEW TREATY.
Sentiment in Favor Of an Arbitration
Treaty GROWING.

washington, Dec. 3.-Awakening
throughout the United States OF popu.
lar sentiment which, 1t Is hoped, will
develop into a national demand for
an arbitration treaty between the
United States and Great Britain, was
the object Of a gathering this after
noon at the residence of General John
w. Foster, formerly secretary Of state.
II Is said that the movement has the
hearty approval Of the president.
Among those present today were Ad-
miral Dewey, General Nelson A. Miles,
Wayne MacVeagh, Thomas Nelson
Page, Clifford Pinchot. John r. Proc.
tor, General II. V. Boynton, ID. c.
Gilman, Charles C. Glover, District
Commissioners Mcfarland and West.
John ]. Edison, Charles ]. Bell, VIII
liam ]. Boardman and w. ". Cox.
Monslgnor ID. j. O'Connell was un-
able to be present but telegraphed to
General Foster his sympathy with the
movement. The men named consti-
tute a local committee and will ar
range for a meeting of the national
arbitration committee on January IL,
1904.
Regarding the scope of the plan,
which Is to be pushed vigorously in
the hope of securing at an early date
a conclusion of an arbitration treaty
following the general lines of the
Hay-Pauncefote treaty of 1897, the As
ISOLATED Press is authorized to make
this statement:
in April, 1896, a notable confer
ence of the friends of international
arbitration was held in Washington,
attended by prominent and represen-
tative citizens from all parts Of the
United States. The conference de-
clared in favor of an arbitration treaty
between the United States and Great
Britain and 1t was followed In Janu-
airy, 1897, by the signing Of such a
treaty by Secretary Hay and Sir Ju.
liam P~auncefote. The treaty failed by
a close vote to receive the two-thirds
majority required for its ratification.
1T is understood that prominent
among the objection against the
treaty were complications growing out
of the Clayton-B ulwer treaty and the
controversy over the Alaskan dound.
airy. These having been disposed of
1t Is felt by the friends of interna-
tional arbitration that the present is
a favorable time to re-awaken public
sentiment favorable to a new arbitra-
ton treaty with Great Britain. They
point out that France has already TAX
en- the lead of us in this matter, by
the convention recently made by
Great Britain, when the United
States, as a kindred nation, should
have set the example. At the meet
ing of the executive committee ap.
pointed by the conference Of 1896,
held last week in New York, II was
decided to call a meeting OF the ma
tional arbitration committee In Wash
ington, January IL, next, to take this
subject into consideration and adopt
such means as may seem desirable
to be taken. To advance these ends.
the local committee was designated
for Washington, and 1t Is contemplate
ed to organize similar committees In
other leading cities of the country"
A circular letter to this effect has
been sent throughout the country. 1t
is learned that Sir Henry Mortimer
Durand, the new British ambassador,
WHO has just arrived in Washington,
is an earnest advocate Of interna-
tional arbitration. While he Is not
associated with the movement In this
country, of course, 1t can be stated
that Sir Mortimer may be relied on
to bring about in Great Britain the
result which the national arbitration
committee in the United States Is
working for. The new British ambas-
sador has been a lifetime believer In
international arbitration and his ap
pointment to the Washington mission
is regarded in official circles here as
especially fortunate for the move.
ment, which Admiral Dewey and
General Foster head.