The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-01-26

the alleged Indebtedness of the State.
THE German government would
reply: Under our demand and TINS
refusal from you, there has arisen De-
tween us a difference of d legal ra'
ture, and we demand that this diner
ence shall be referred under the terms
Of our treaty to the court of arbitra'
tion at The Hague for it's final deter
mination, in order that if that court
shall determine that our claim IS
good one, it may by it's award provide
a way by which the State can be made
to paw the amount of these bonds 10
German people who hold them.
LAS to Presidential Assurances.
."That such a demand would be
made BY q foreign government is hign-
Nv probable. Foreign governments
will not come TO our shores ana pom
bard our seaportS to collect the dents
claimed to be due to their cltzens'
as they did in the case of Venezuela,
because while Venezuela is weak we
are strong: but foreign governments
will not fail to take advantage or an
opportunity furnished to them by the
terms of a treaty to have such claims
against a State adjudicated by a for
eign court of arbitration.
''lt is said that no President of the
United States would agree to submit
such a question TO arbitration. But
the question is not what the President
would do, but what he would nave
the power TO do under the treaty II
not amended. We do not pass laws
IN this country which leave people 20
10 as they please. taking il for grant
ed that they will always do right On
the contrary, we pass laws prescribing
what persons may do or what they
shall not do. This applies to officials
IS well as to individuals. Even II II
could be known that no President
would entertain such q demand (Whlch
cannot be lInoWn), il would occasion
treat mischief TO have such Il demand
made under n claim that our treaty
authorized il. Such demand by a
,oreie-n government and the inevitable
discussion which would result tnerc-
rom both In Europe and in America,
would occasion much annoyance, lfrs-
tation and anxiety TO our people ana
lffect the public credit OF the state
whatever might be the result. we do
,ot wish the question of the fraudulent
1onds revived. 1t has been finally de
ided by the State, and there Snould
"a no occasion voluntarily afforded Dy
Is TO revive the agitation Of the same.
.'The Amendment Suggested.
"These treaties should not be ratified
nless amended so that they cannot re-
ate to any matter that concerns Il
-
rot relate to any originating prior 10
certain date-say, 1885.
1.-The Senator'S who favor TINS
mendment are not opposed to the
ettlement of international disputes D.
FILTRATION. On the contrary. they ia
or such arbitration: but that Is no
eason why they should support every
roposed arbitration treaty, simply be-
ause il provides for arbitration, ana
egardless of whether 1t has or mas
OF improper and dangerous PROVISIONS
mbaced in 1t.
III is certainly significant that the
roposed amendment for the proteC.
ION Of the States should meet with
uch strenuous opposition. If no for
ign government has any purpose 10
make any demand under these pro-
osed treaties relative to alleged OBJ
igations of a State, Ii is certainly a
roper inquiry why such foreign gov
rnment should object to an eXpllclt
declaration in the treaty that no such
'emaad shall be made.
It is better TO be safe than TO BE
orry. If the pending arbitration
reaties could not give the right 10
ct the commission consider these out
awed Southern securities. it is a very
asy matter to exclude "ail claims
| lgainst a State OF the American Union
! nd settle the matter at once. me
| ppcsition to excluding such claim by
| .pecific terms IS enough 70 create sus-
! oicion and warrant Southern Senators
| O insist upon such an amendment be-
| 'ore voting TO ratify the treaties.