The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-02-15
LODGE ANSWERS ROOSEVELT.
DEFENDS SEN4TE'S ACTION on
ARBITRATION TREATIES.
European states. He Declares. Follow Our
Course I'm Insisting That such Agree
mcnts Require Legislative Indorse-
ment-Only One Treaty Rejected.

WASHINGTON Feb. 1i.-After further
consideration the Senate leaders have de-
Gded not to make any response through
tho newspapers TO tho several communion
tons written by the President In defense
OF his opposition to amending the arhitra-
ton treaties. but will content themselves
with printing, as a public document. a
statement prepared by Senator Lodge
showing the limitations imposed upon
foreign sovereigns or heads of state in
the exercise OF the treaty making power.
One of the leaders said to-day. in e1-
PLANTATION of the conclusion not to mako
a direct response to Mr.. Roosevelt. that
the Senate could not afford to enter into
newspaper controversy with the Executive.
He pointed out that while letters written
by the President to the chairman of the
Committee on Foreign Relations had been
furnished 10 the press, not. however. by
the Senate it would lie improper for the
Senate to defend itself through similar
course, IA the matter in controversy re-
lated to executive session business, and
was therefore confidential.
Senator Lodges statement concerning
the practice Of foreign governments in the
negotiation and ratification Of treaties was
IltstIllcu W lHt otlldte IN executive ceS-
sion late this afternoon and was ordered
to be printed AZ "A public document. Mr.
Lodge showed that, with the one exception,
OF Great Britain every constitutional or
liberal state of Europe restricted the treaty
making power Of the Crown or executive
where obligations we're imposed upon the
State, or, in some cases, upon any of it's
subjects or citizens.
In Germany, for example. special treaty
OF arbitration which would commit the
empire or its subjects to observe DEGREES
OF the arbitration court. must be ratified
not only by the upper house but by both
houses OF the Imperial Assembly.
The purpose of the statement prepared
by Mr. Lodge was TO show that the Presi-
dent was wrong in assuming that under
the arbitration treaties amended by the
Senate on Saturday mono of the European
nations with whom they were made would
consent 10 enter into a special arbitration
agreement in each case Of dispute when
these special agreements would not become
binding on the United States until ratified
by the Senate.
On the contrary. Mr.. Lodges citations
show that nearly every European govern
ment would be bound TO submit any special
arbitration on agreement to its national
assembly, whose ratification would be re-
qured before the arbitration could pro-
coed, thus following the exact course
which the Senate by it's action on Satur-
day laid down as necessary.
The showing rnadss by Mr.. Lodge was
considered by Senators to be "a sufficient
response to the Presidents contention
that 1T would not be wise or expedient
TO try To secure the assent Of the other
contracting Powers to the amended treaties.
To his statement Mr.. Lodge added
list Of the arbitration treaties that have been
submitted to the Senate. II showed that
there were forty-four such, that thirty
seven had been ratified without amend
ment that six had been amended and ratified,
and that only one-the Oney- Paunce
arbitration treaty between the United
States and England-had been rejected.
The list did not include the treaties which
the Senate amended on Saturday.