New-York tribune., 1908-02-11
TREATY WITH FRANCE.
PROTIDES ARBITRATION.
Signed bg Secretary Root and
Ambassador Jusserand.

washington. Feb 10-Secretary Root and
Ambassador Jusserand to-day signed a treaty
providing for the arbitration of any issue that
may arise between France and the United
States.
The treaty VIII have to be submitted to the
United States Senate and to the French Execu-
tive before it can become effective Meanwhile
.ts provisions are withheld from publication. 1t
is understood however. that the treaty is drawn
in accordance with the recommendation of the
late Hague conference. which, finding il irnpos-
sible TO draft general arbitrations treaty that
could receive the assent and support Of all
the great powers, adopted q resolution recon-
rnending that the various signatory powers
undertake TO make special arrangement among
themselves for the settlement Of disputes by
arbitration The present convention is believed
70 be in terms similar TO prepared by Sec
retary Olney and Lord Pauncefote looking to the
arbitration Of possible disputes between Amer
ica and Great Britain. which failed of approval
by the Senate
The failure Of the OIney-Pauncefote treaty and
of subsequent convention negotiated by Secre-
-a-v Hay with the British Ambassador here COW
e-irs the same ground was due TO the insist
ence BY the Senate its right to pass on every
-7-oposition submitted TO arbitration. The body
zae willing TO approve the drafts Of the treaty
submitted provided the Executive accepted
condiments which required that the President
sbould allow the Senate TO express its approval
or disa approval every time il was purposed TO
refer an issue TO arbitration But the Execu-
rive took the ground that such an amendment
--ould defeat the purpose Of the treaty, and that
g was si1perfuous for the reason that the Presi-
den. already enjoyed the constitutional right TO
-e-o4ia-e arbitration as well as other treaties
g. snv time and there no need for a general
s-bf--atjon treaty confirming such right. There
.o-a ire President never undertook to obtain the
accent Of Great Britain 10 the amended treaties.
end they failed
owing to the rule that drafts Of treaties must
-,o- he made public before they have been the
eBb5ec1 Of action by the Senate. il is impossible
% ascertain al present how Secretary Root mas
,Aen able 70 overcome the apparently insur-
-,,r-7+shie obstacle TO the ratification Of such
treaty arising from the insistence of the Senate
= its right to pass separately on any question
n be arbit-ated.
The failure Of The Hague conference to agree
r, : general arbitration treaty was caused by
.ta refusal Of some Of the principal European
nations 70 enter into conventional arrangements
rf that kind with some Of the smaller countries
IF South and Central America and with Oriental
cations They were willing and even anxious 20
eg-ee 20 arbitrate any issues arising between
.ha-7 selves and with certain specified nations but
tee-e5 that radical differences in judicial meth
oSs and in forms OF government maui - i-4
-edient 10 make arbitration treaties with GER
-sf, other nations. Hence, the conference was
chired 10 content itself with the general dec
,a-a+ion that the nations represented al Inc
41ap71e should endeavor 70 make separate ar
-ansernents among themselves for the al "l'i a
.jon Of future disputes.
convention providing for the exchange OF
-,o--ar matter between America and France was
- -osav 81 the State Department by Sec
,efa-v Root and Ambassador Jusserand-