The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-08-15
TUESDAY, AUGUST Is, 1911.
THE rANGLr ON TUE TREATIES


THE TANGLE ON TIE TREATIES.
1t is reported from Washington that
there is TO be a serious conflict be-
tween the President and the Senate
over the arbitration treaties. The
Senate insists upon amending the
treaties by striking out the provision
which empowers the Joint high COM
mission 10 determine the propriety OF
arbitrating in international disputes,
and the President insists that this
provision shall stay in the treaties.
Both Senate ana President are stand
ing firm. and II is said by The Sun
correspondent that mot since Presi-
dent TAFT entered the White House
has such general feeling OF hostility
against the Executive in the upper
branch OF Congress been threatened as
by tho Issue involved in those arbl-
tration treaties" 1t is further said
that the President Will carry the
matter TO the voters OF the country"
which would be very bad for the
treaties. Tho only members of the
Foreign Rotations Committee who
have supported tho Presidents view
are Senators Cullom and Burton.
Lodge. Smith, of Michigan. and Borah.
Republicans and Bacon. Shively, Clark
and Rayner, Democrats, are against
the President, and Root would be also
II he did not have n professional feel
ing for Secretary Knox, who holds his
old place at the head of the Depart
ment OF State.
1t IS rather bad mlx-up as it
stands. and there Is a good deal to be
said on both sides; but 1t seems TO
us If the treaties are really for the
purpose OF preserving peace among
the signatory nations that this end
would be more nearly secured by the
submission OF their international diff
ferences to the high joint commission
than 10 subject these differences in
any OF their aspects TO the consider
alton OF the Senate, IL political body
wholly unfamiliar with the arts OF
diplomacy. "Thc Pacific Coast States"
'yelloU PERIL" and their representa-
tives contend that with the arbitra-
ton policy OF this Government once
generally extended 1t would be I'M
possible to avoid submitting such
questions as the exclusion OF Japanese
from public schools in California to
arbitration" 1t is not likely that
any such questions would ever arise
under the treaties; but suppose they
should and that Captain Hobson
should be in the United States Senate
as he probably will be some day, does
any one thipll for moment that he
would be able 10 deal with the cues
ton as the dignity OF this country
would require in the settlement OF
issues of this character? We should
rather trust. ;. TO the intelligence and
broad view. .of..tke nigh joint commits
sion than TO the narrow prejudices
OF the army OF jingoes with which the
Senate might be filled. An arbitra-
tion treaty is not like primary cleo
zion law; there ought to be no local
or partisan or sectonal politics III II
or connected with II.
If the object OF the arbitra ton
treaties is to preserve the peace OF
the nations and avoid the horrors OF
war, treaties that will accomplish this
divine result should be adopted fol-
this reason and for mono other
Treaties that have met with the favor
of the countries accustomed to wal
are not treaties that should be set
aside even for the high and noble pur-
pose of preserving the rights and dig
nifty of THE American Senate. II we
intend TO play IN the game with the
great World Powers. we must play
the game as, experts and not as anna
teurs.