Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-02-11

1t deems it wise hereafter, enter into treaties
Of arbitration. Inasmuch as we of course
now have the power to enter into any
treaties of arbitration, and inasmuch as to
pass these amended treaties does not in the
smallest degree facilitate settlements by ar
bitratiOn, to make them would in no way
further the cause of international peace. IL
would not, In my judgment, be wise or eX-
pedient to try to secure the assent or the
other contracting parties to the AMENDED @
cured 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 mere general
statement that we intend hereafter when
we can come to an agreement with foreign
powers to what shall be submitted, to
enter into arbitration treaties; for We have
already, when we ratified The Hague treaty
with the various signatOry powers, soemnly
declared such to be our intention; and moth
ing Is gained by reiterating our adherence
to the principle while refusing to provide
any means Of making our intention effect
i've.
In the amended form the treaties contain
nothing except such expression of barren
intention and, indeed. as compared with
what has already been provided for in The
Hague arbitration treaty, they probably
represent not a step forward but slight
step backward as regards the question of
international arbitration. AS such do not
think that they should receive the sanction
of this government. Personally it is not
my opinion that this government lacks the
power to enter into general treaties of ar
bitration, but If / am in error, and If this
government has no power to enter into
such general treaties, then it seems to me
that 1t is better not TO attempt to make
them, rather than to make the attempt in
such shape that they shall accomplish liter
ally nothing whatever when made.
Sincerely yours,
Mr.. s. NJ. CULLOM,
Chairman, Committee on Foreign
Relations, United States Senate.
President Roosevelt and Secretary. Hay
are in full accord to the words "agree-
ment" and treaty" Some Of those who
are opposing the treaties in the Senate in
! innate that Secretary Hay selected the
word agreement" that it might give the
President free hand in dealing with for
eign governments in the matter of arbitra-
ton. This was the intimation of Senator
| Spooner in a speech in executive session
yesterday, 1t is stated.
Read in the Senate.
The Senate went into executive session
| soon after assembling today, and resumed
| consideration Of the arbitration treaties.
| Senator Cullom, chairman of the committee
| on foreign relations, in charge Of the
| treaties, presented to the Senate which
| was read from the clerks desk, the letter
| which President Roosevelt wrote to him
l concerning the treaties.
The reading Of the letter was listened to
| with deep attention, and at it's conclusi On
| general debate followed upon the points
| made by the President. The President s
| letter was thought to have the effect of
| smoothing down some of the opposition to
| the treaties, but there still existed, as
| shown In the tenor Of the remarks, strong
| antagonism to the word agreement and
| considerable sentiment in favor of chang
ing 1t in accordance with the recommen-
| dations Of the committee.
Senator Morgan's Criticism.
When the reading had been concluded
Senator Morgan took the floor and, making
the Presidents letter the text of his re-
| marks, proceeded with sharp criticism of
| executive interference with the Senate in
| performing its part in the making Of trea-
| ties. He spoke of the letter another evil
| dence of the Presidents tendency >toward
| the usurpation Of the senatorial preroga-
| tive, and said that the President had no
| more right to interfere with the Senates
consideration of the subject at this stage
OF the proceeding than the Senate would
nave had to interfere with him while the
treaty was In process of preparation.
When Senator Morgan completed his
speech Senator Spooner took the floor and
| following somewhat on the lines of Mr.
Morgan's remarks. took issue with the
President on the substitution of the word
treaty for agreement" contending that
the change was not an indication Of any
backward step, but that even with this
change the consummation of the treaties
would mark an important step forward. He
said that the ratification of the treaty as
amended by the committee would pledge
the government to the general proposition
of arbitration. He also made strong con-
tention for the preservation of the senate
rial prerogative, and instancing the agree
| ment with reference to the Plus fund.- de-
clared that even that should have been
presented to the Senate, notwithstanding
the general provision for submission to The
Hague tribunal.
The Senate remained in executive session
discussing the treaties, until the hour of /:
O'Clock arrived, when the doors were opened
and the Swayne impeachment proceeding:
were renewed. No vote was taken on rati
fcation or amendment and the whole sub
ject went over until next week.