Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1908-02-22
FLEET NEAR PERU PORT TREATIES CAUSE FRICTION
Trouble in Legislative and Execu-
tive Branches Of Government.
FOREIGN NATIONS INVOLVED
Treaties Negotiated at Hague conven
tion--Senate and Secretary Of
State Disagree.
State Disagree.

Washington. b G., Februarg 20
Friction between the executive and
legislative branches Of the govern
ment has existed for about three
years over treaties negotiated by the
state department with foreign pow
ers. The treaties in question were
negotiated III accordance with the
Proceedings and understanding reached
al the Hague convention. All OF the
participating nations, including the
United States were sgnatories to
that convention
Pursuant to the agreement reached
the United states through the secre-
ary Of state, negotiated arbitration
treaties with Great BRIAN. Germany.
France Portugal Spain Switzerland
and Ialy In accordance with our
constitution the treaties were submit
ted 10 the senate for ratification. 1t
was urged by the administration that
they ought to be ratified without
amendment as any changes IN them
would prove embarrassing to The de-
partment Of state The senate declIn-
I'd 10 adopt them without amendment.
but, after considerable debate in ex-
ecutiye session. did ratify them with
certain changes
wei, fla -, a., In, ,,,te 1,e tho eauata
attached. the seven treaties were re-
turned to the secretary Of state. In
the archieves Of the state department
they have remained ever since, as the
President and score airy of state de-
cided 10 make no attempt to exchange
Publications with the other nations.
The difference mat arose at that
time between the executive and the
senate was that the senate maintained
If it should ratify the treaties as sub
mitted to it, the entire treaty1naking
power Of the government would be
lodged with the executive The sen
ate held that It was the purpose Of
the executive to negotiate such con-
ention or agreements as II might
choose to without reference to the
senate which under the constitution.
is a part of the treaty-mak'ng power
70 this government. Apparently t
was not so much the treaties submit
ted that the senate objected to. as It
was that is pride HAD been touched.
It was scld By the state department
that the treaties. as amended bv the
senate, amounted to not much more
than the paper on which they. We're
engrossed as they were merely
agreements to agree to aubitrate, sub
ieet 10 the agreement Of the senate.
The fact that new treaties with the
several powers have been negotiated
by Secretary Root ha~ aroused a deal
of curiosity as to how he has avoided
the difficulty which the senate laid In
his path. 1t seems now to be certain
that the treaties will not be submitted
to the senate unless SOME d9Sui aiNV
are given that they will be ratified
in the form agreed upon by the diplo
matte representatives of the govern
ments interested 1t is understood
that a concession will be made to the
senate in one respect, in that a pro
vision is made in the treaties that the
subjects to be arbitrated and the
scope and methods of the proceedings
shall have the approval of the senate
before formal action shall be entered
upon. 1t is expected that this ar
rangement will be satisfactory to the
senate and that the treaties will be
ratified without necessary delay.