Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1905-02-12
Wholesale RatifiCdtiOnS of
Arbitration Conventions
A STRAINED SITUATION
The Neglect by the Senate OF Susses-
tionS From the President for Rafi6-
cation OF the Treaties as They Were
Originally Negotiated.

Washington. Feb 1.-THE senate to-
day ratified the arbitration trestr--
between the United States and eight
European governments Il reouira.l
two sessions TO reach an agreement
At the first session consideration was
given to a communication from the
president 10 Senator CuIlo-n. chairman
of the foreign affairs committee. in th-
form Of a protest against any amend
ment being adopted; al the second ses-
sion the treaties We're amended and
ratified with only nine votes against
the amendments made by the senate
committee on foreign relations The
situation in the senate over the arbltr-l-
ton treaties has been strained for sev-
eraI weeks The first protests against
the treaties were made by senators lrous
the southern states who suggested ara
amendment. which precluded the ras-
sibility OF arbitration Of claims agulns-
their states by reason OF repudiatel
bonds. Later IL was suggested that ara
amendment should be adopted whIcl.
changed but one word. that of -agree-
ment' To treaty in article .. makiu-
the article read as follows in each En-
diVidual case the high contractiuE plFI-
court OF arbitration. shall conclude .
special treaty defining clearly the mat
ter in dispute, the scope OF the powers
of the arbitratOrs and the periods 20 b.
fixed for the formation Of the arbitrlI
tribunal ana the several stages OF the
procedure" The amendment answered
the purpose OF the protests made Dy
southern senators and in addition %
that established the principle that any
matter in nature OF treaty with a fox
eign government must be consumEnat-
ed by the president, with the consent
of the senate"
In this form the committee reported
the treaties to the senate The rreat-
les were considered but no action was
taken beyond arriving at an aEree-
ment that they would be again takea
up today. The first session OF the SEN
ate today was confined almost entire
ly to the defense by a half dozen sen
ators of the senate's right 70 amend
treaties The president was criticiEel
sharply because OF his letter declariEs
it TO be a step backward 70 ratify
treaties in the form proposed by the
senate committee on foreign relations
No defense OF the presidents posi-
ton was taken until the second eNecu-
tive session when Messrs- Dolliver.
Fairbanks and PlStt OF CounecricuJ
argued against the need OF haste They
took the position that there are ua
questions included in the treaties which
could not properly be submitted by
executive agreement To arbitration
Senator DOiliver said there were some
matters of business that were pressiuss
in the senate, but that the treaties did
not enter into the list and II they were
amended in the form proposed the
frrH
est in them. Il was argued that the
amendment ought 10 be directed. il aa
amendment We're necessary al all 10 a
better definition OF the class OF cues
tions to be left TO arbitration. rather
than by an amendment which put The
government of the United States iu the
attitude of agreeing with foreign ua-
tions in advance that in certain cases
il would make treaties OF arbitration
It was said that the obligation 10 do
that was already upon Us BY reason ~
The Hague convention and the OFF,
repeated statement that il is our ma
tional policy 70 arbitrate- The rotiti-
cation of these treaties. il was argued
offered TO this government the best
chance il was likely 10 have in this
generation 10 do its share toward the
abolition of the barbarisms OF war
After speeches by Senators Platt %
Connecticut. DOlliver and Fairbanks a
motion to adjourn was made on the
ground that there was no need for has
ty action on treaties Those who taN-
ored the amendment opposed this mo-
ton and on roll call. il was defeated
a motion was then made 10 adopt
the committees amendment The vote
was taken on the treaty between the
United States and France as the othes
treaties are on Identical lines A ro+A
call was again demanded and ths
amendment was adopted by vote -
80 TO Q. When this amendment MAS
adopted it was agreed 10 so far as tee
other treaties were concerned ana the
treaties were ratified by viva Voce
vote.