The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-12-12
The Fashion Center.
The great Plymouth Clothing House.
IRISH AMERICANS
OPPOSE TREATY
FIGHT on Ratification Of Peace
Pact Between England and
United States.
Special to The Journal.

Special to The Journal.
Chicago, Dec. 12.-Walter Wellman
in Washington special to the Record
Opposition to the Anglo-American
arbitration treaty has arisen, and it
comes from the Irish societies Of New
York, Chicago and other cities. The
treaty of arbitration between this
country and Great Britain was signed
by the representatives Of the two gov
ernments, Secretary Hay and Sir Nor
timer Durand, the British ambassador.
at the state department. this morning
It will be ready to send to the senate
along with ten or a dozen other trea'
ties of arbitration shortly after con
gress reconvenes in January.
The Irish-American leaders have
adopted a peculiar method Of fighting
the British treaty. To none Of the
other treaties Of arbitration do they
offer any objection, but they apparent
ly are determined the British treaty
shall not be ratified by the senate if
they can prevent such action.
Appeals to southerners.
They have for some time been send
ing appeals to southern senators tc
vote against the proposed treaty with
Great Britain on the ground that if il
bark back to the days Of the civil wa,
in the United States, and haul the
American government before The
Hague tribunal in an effort to collect
the value Of the bonds issued by the
southern Confederacy and sold to Brit
ish subjects.
A number Of southern soldiers have
been much impressed by the argument:
used by the Irish American leaders, anC
tho, so far as can be learned, no sen
ator from that section has as yet an
several southern senators have de
clared they intend to inquire very
carefully into the subject before they
give the convention their adherence
One Of the senators in question says he
doubts the wisdom Of the treaty ant
wonders if we were not "going too
far' in concluding a general treaty
Of arbitration with Great Britain.
Other Efforts in North.
This attempt to arouse the fears Of
effort the Irish American societies ar,
making to stir up sentiment antagon
istic to the British treaty. They ar
sending out letters to senators from al
parts of the country opposing tn,
treaty on one ground or another. =
Republican senators are reminded
that the adoption Of a peace compac
with Great Britain would be politi
cal blunder, inasmuch as it would of
fend hundreds Of thousands of Irish
Americans who are just now showing .
tendency to join the. republican party
Senator Cullom, chairman of the for
eign relations committee, and othe
senators interested in the success of al
the arbitration treaties, including tn
convention with Great Britain, do no
believe this agitation will prove stron!
| enough to place the British pact il
danger, but there is no telling .wha
may happen.
Without criticising the Irish-Amer
leans, and conceding the right Of thos
people and Of all people to oppose
treaty or any other measure whicl
they. do not happen to like, the friend
of the proposed arbitration compact
scout the idea that there is a sinql
rational argument upon which to bas
any of this opposition. -