The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1905-02-11
President ROOSEV makes
PUBLIC IA letter SEN Yes
TERDAY' ITO SENATOR aCULLONA
He SAYS SOME ~ vERY PLAlN
THIN Gs I8c CONCERNING The
ReiTRATloN TREATIES.
AND LETS tsTH E SENATE KNOW
WHERE Il STANDS tAs5 TO 81
Sis AMENDMENTS. it
,(ByfPublishers' Press J

n BY publishers Press.)
SyAsHINGTo IN, Feb 4 President
Roosevelt today gave out copies Of
letter written by him yesterday to
Senator Cullom. chairman Of the SEN
ate Fore ign Relations committee pro-
testing against the proposed amend:
Sment OF the! arbitration treaties now
pending I'm the Senate and stating
that if amended he will allow the
treaties to die. In the letter; the Pres:
ssident says Il learn that the Senate
Gommittee on Foreign Relations has
reported the arbitration treaties to
The Senate amending them by substi:
tutingi ifor! the word agreement in the
second article, the word treaty. The
effect Sof the. amendment is to make
sftEno longer possible, as between its
contracting Il parties, to submit any
matter whatever to arbitration, ,twitts
out first obtaining special treaty to
y cover the case. This will represent
mot a step forward, but a step back
ward. II the. word treaty be substi-
i Sstited the result is that every such
agr cement must be submitted to the
Senate; and these general arbitration
treaties would then cease to be such,
and, indeed, in their amended form
they amount to a specific pronounce.
nsnt against the whole principle Of
aa general arbitration treaty
The Senate has, of course, the alb
Ssolute right to reject or to amend in;
v any way iit3sees fit, any treaty laid be.
fore and tits clearly the duty of
the Senate to take any step which, in
the exercise Of Its best judgment, it
deems ito be for the best interests Of
the esnati Jon. II, ! however, in the judg-
nent& of the p PRESIDENT, a given amend
isment nullities a proposed trcaty, it
Seems time that It is no less clearly
hiss duty to refrain from endeavoring
sato cure. a ratiilcation, by the other
ontracting power or powers Of the
amended treaty. and after much
thought have come to the conclu-
sion that ]; ought 10 write and tell you
such is $myj5ffjudgment in this
ss5case.
Itswould not in my judgment, be
wise sor8expe pedient to try TO secure the
assent sof the other, contracting pow:
4 ers to be e$amended treaties, for even
if such assent We're secured, we
should Sstill remain precisely Where
3 We were before, save where the stu
alton may be changed little for the
\ worse In the amended form the
treaties contain nothing except al
expression Of barren intention. Al
such T do not think that they shoult
receive the. sanction of this govern
Isssment. Personally it is not my opin
that this government lacks The
power to enter into general treaties o
arbitration but i'll am in error and i
this government has no power 10 en-
ter; into such treaties, then it Seems
to me sthatsit issbetter MOTTO attemp
to make them, rather than to maxi
the attempt in such shape that the.
shall accomplish literally nothin!
whatever when made. - 4
Senator Cullom called at the Whit
House to inform the President tha
the sentiment of the Senate notwitt
standing the Presidents wishes l.
sIs the matter, was in favor OF the pre-
posed amendment to the treaties, an
against any special agreements OF tn
foreign countries by the executiv
branch ssof the government withou
the advice and consent sof the Sci
ate {:
The issue is now fairly joined b.
tween the Senate and President an
the utcome will be watched with il
terest, Il there is to be any "backin
down" twill be by the Senate, ,sa
the Presidents friends TO whom, /
has time and again, stated that, /
would mot submit any emasculate
arbitration treaties to the intereste
nations for ratification, and, his lett,
OF yesterday only makes his stat
ment In this. regard more positive.
sEES e; t4
Don't forget the Elks Charity Mi
stfels will Sgiyei: two ~ performance
matinee and night, Feb. a14.S$ty
n,