The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1911-08-11

| Washington, Aug. 5.-President
Taft has sent to the senate the gem
eral arbitration treaties between the
United States and Great Britain and
the United States and France. signed
for this government and for Great
Britain here Thursday and signed IN
Paris for the government of France.
Already there have been mutter-
ings from the senate over these
treaties. President Taft is non-com-
initial, but was anxious to put them
before that body before the adjourn
ment of the special session.
The ceremony of signing the trea-
ties took place in the presidents H.
brary in the White House.
Numerous treaties, including that
between Spain and the United States,
have been signed in that room. and
the messages of presidents and many
important state documents were
written within its walls.
Little Formally to Ceremony.
! Little formality attached to the
ceremony. Secretary Knox, British
Ambassador Bryce. Counsellor
Chandler Anderson, of the state de-
partment; Osmond Ovey, second Sec
| rotary of the British embassy; the
Vicomte Saint Phalle, of the French
embassy; two members of the cabi-
net, score of newspaper men and
three photographers were present.
The treaty with Great Britain was
signed at $40 this afternoon.
Secretary Knox and Ambassador
| Bryce signed duplicates at the same
| moment. The French treaty was
signed by Mr.. Knox one minute later.
Signs Message to Senate.
The treaties out of the way, Presi-
dent Taft took his place at the desk.
Before him were laid two messages
to the senate. He affixed his name,
and then, so far as the executive end
of the government is concerned, the
matter was concluded.
Ten minutes after the ceremony
Mr.. Bryce was walking down the cap
ital streets through the rain and
the president and Secretary Knox
were planning to play golf together
at Chevy Chase.
Jean Jules Jusserand had the
honor of signing the arbitration
treaty between the United States and
France six hours ahead of the sign
ing of the treaty between the United
States and Great britain
He was the first foreign diplomat
to come forward with tentative ac-
ceptance of President Taft's informal
proposal to all nations for such
treaty as has been concluded, al
though during the negotiations COM
paratively little was heard of the
part taken by him in forwarding
the great movement.
The British government took the
initiative in negotiating for general
arbitration, although France was the
first to recognize the possibility of
such an agreement.
Ambassador Jusserand has been
accredited to Washington since 1902.
During the Roosevelt administration
he was a member of the so-called
Tennis cabinet"
General Features of Treaties.
The general features of the new
treaties are:
All differences internationally JUS
ticiable shall be submitted to The
Hague, unless by special agreement
some other tribunal is created or Sc
lected.
Differences that either country
thinks are not justiciable shall be re-
ferred to a commission Of inquiry,
composed of representatives of the
two governments, empowered to
make recommendations for their
settlement. Should the commission
decide that the dispute should be
arbitrated, such decision will be
binding.
Disputes to Be Investigated.
Before arbitration is resorted to,
even in cases where both countries
agree that the difference is suscep-
tible of arbitration, the commission
of inquiry shall investigate the dis
|