Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1905-02-11

Washington, Feb. II. - President
Roosevelt has addressed letter to
Senator Cullom, chairman of the COM
mittee on foreign relations. stating
the action OF that committee in a
mending the arbitration treaties by
substituting for the word agreement
the word treaty" is, in his opinion, a
step backward. If the word treaty
is substituted the treaties would a
mount to specific pronouncement a
Eainst the whole principle of the gen
eral arbitration treaty. The president
says IL the amendment nullified the
proposed treaties, it seems to him 1T
is clearly his duty to refrain from en-
deavoring te, secure ratification OF the
amended treaty.
RooseveIt's Letter.
The letter follows:
"My Dear Senator Cullom: 1 learn
the senat, committee on foreign rela-
tions has reported the arbitration trea-
ties to the senate, amending them by
substituting for the word agreement
in the second article the word treaty.
"The effect of the amendment is to
make it no longer possible, as between
its contracting parties, to submit any
matter whatever to arbitration with
out first obtaining special treaty to
cover the case.
This will represent no step forward,
but q step backward. If the word "a
greement were retained it would be
possible, for the department of state
to do as, for instance, it has already
done under the Hague treaty, in the
Pious fund arbitration case with Mex
ico, and submit to arbitration such
subordinate matters as by treaty the
senate had decided could be left to
the executive to submit under the jur-,
isdiction limited by the general treaty
of arbirtat ton. If the word treaty be
substituted, the result is that every
such agre enlent must be submitted to
the senate, and these general arbitra-
tion treaties would then cease TO be
such and indeed in their amended form
they amount to a specific pronounce
ment against the whole principle of
general arbitration treaty.
'The senate of course, has absolute
right to reject or amend in any way it
sees fit any treaty laid before it and
1t is clearly the duty of the senate to
take any step which in the exercise of
Its best Judgment, it deems to be for
the interest of the nation.
"If however, in the judgment of the
president, a given amendment nullifies
a proposed treaty, it seems to me 1t
As no less clearly his duty to refrain
from endeavoring to secure ratification,
by the other contracting power or pow
ers, of an amended treaty, and after
much thought have come to the con-
clusion, I ought to write and tell you
such is my judgment in this case.
"As amended we would have a treaty
OF arbitrs tion which in effect, will do
nothing but recite that this govern
ment will when it deems it wise, here
after to enter into any treaties of ar
bitration, and inasmuch as to pass
those amended treaties does not, in
the smallest degree, facilitate settle
mepts by arbitration, to make them
would in no way further the cause of
International peace. 1t would not, III
my Judgment, be wise or eXpedient to
try to secure the assent of other con-
tracting powers to the amended treat
ies, for even if such We're secured we
should still remain precisely where we
were before, save where the situation
may be changed a little for the worse.
There would not even be the slight
benefit that might obtain from the
more general statement that we intend
hereafter, when we can come to an
agreement with foreign power as to
what shall be submitted, to enter into
arbitration treaties; for we have al
ready, when we ratified the Hague
treaty with various signatory powers,
solemnly declared such to be our In
tention; and nothing is gained by re-
iterating our adherence to the principle
while, refusing to provide any means
of making our intention effective. In
the amended form the treaties contain
nothing except such expressions of bar
ren intention and indeed, as compared
with what has already been provided
for in the Hague arbitration treaty,
they probably represent not a step for
ward. but a slight step backward as
regards the question of international
arbitration. AS such / do not think
they should receive the sanction of this
government. Personally it is NOT my
opinion tnat this government lacks the
power to enter into general treaties OF
arbitration. but If I am in error and If
this government has no power to enter
into the general treaties, then 1t seems
to me that it is better not to make
them rather than to make an attempt
in such shape that they shall accomp-
lish literally nothing whatever when
made. Sincerely Yours Theodore
Roosevelt"
Senators Surprised.
Cullom read the letter aloud during