New-York tribune., 1910-03-26
TFrom Ths Tribune buronu.l J

MashlnSlo-s Marcn .
SLOW ABOUT LIBERIA.-The senate
Will unquestionably make haste slowly In
The ratification % any treaty with the re-
public OF Liberia by which the United
States assumes the grave responsibilities
regarding thei country which arc recon-
mensed by the obviously enthusiastic COM
mission which recently visited Liberia, and
a summary az whose report was trans
mitted 20 Congress to-day by the Presi-
dent. AZ. Taft Informed Congress that the
Secretary % state IA a communication 20
the Executive had dwelt on the adv-sahiiity
of carrying out the recommendations Of the
commission ana had said that plans were
u.der way for the negotiation Of treaty
with Liberia 20 pUt thera into eject. There
Is. Of course. no occasion for the Senate
to take any action IN the premises until the
administration submits its treaty. espe-
cially as the Department OF State is pro-
cceding without consulting the Senate. but
wacn the treaty. II ore is completed, comes
before the upper house for ratification II is
certain 10 he subjected 20 The closest
scrutiny. cnd tho whole question of the ad-
visibility % this country's assuming re-
sponsihili;ies in Africa VIII be most care
rally considered. As long ago as 1897 Great
Britain sounded this GOV ernInent regarding
its disposition 90 so.n with that nation 20
insure the permanence Of the Liberian re-
public and the integrity OF It's boundaries,
and this government replied with q polite
note expressing its interest In tae subject,
its cordially 10 Liberia. etc. but refraining
from committing itself 10 any definite pro-
gramme. since that time Great Britain has
undertaken 20 befriend the republic. ana
has found II a somewhat thank!ess task.
SENATE sKEPTICAL.-From the sum
mary Of the report OF the commission which
visited Liberia, II would appear that Liberia
was suffering severely from the encrOach-
ments OF her powerful neighbors. France
ana Great Britain, whose colonies adJoia
the republic. The Senate viii insist. how
ever. that these facts be substantiated be-
fore any action Is nredicated thereon. espe-
cially as the members Of the commission
appear 20 have been disposed 20 lend a
most wtlllag ear 10 tie representation
made 20 them by the Lberian officials. o.
course, The policy Of the Department OF
STATE n negotiating a treaty eInbOcying
the resolutions OF the commission Is based
on the course OF this government with re-
gard 20 Santo Domingo. But the resolu-
tons I'm his case are Ear more extensive
and complicated. including assistance in
the establishment Of a cOnstabulary, reform
OF internal finances and aid IN the settle-
ment OF boundary disputes. The case o.
Santo Domingo was comparatively simple.
from the fact that Santo Domingo is sur
rounded by water. except on one sice. where
its me- ghbor is Hayt. and from the further
fact that this country was merely asked 10
designate officials 10 collect and distribute
the customs revenue between the native
administration and the bankers who liqui-
dated Santo Domingo's debt. Moreover, in
that case this government had the incentive
OF the necessity Of interfering 20 prevent
European encroachraent, which would have
constituted a violation OF the Monroe Doe
tr.ne. And even then the ratification OF
the Santo Domingo convention was at
tended with the utmost difficulty.
HOUSE NAY APOLOGIZE.-One Of the
first questions which the new Committee )n
Rules win be asked 20 consider Is a resolu-
tion prepared by representative Bennett
and Sulzer providing that the rehuke ad-
ministered 10 President Roosevelt IN connec-
tion with his famous Secret Service message