The Washington times., 1911-08-03
PEACE TREATY
WILL Be SIGNED
THIS AFTERNOON
Knox and Bryce Will Affix
Signatures At White
House.
By ]. FRED ESSARY.

When Secretary Knox, Ambassador
the arbitration treaties at o'clock this
afternoon, binding the United States,
Great Britain, and France to submit all
Of whatever nature to arbi-
tration, the most advanced step for in
ternational peace In the history Of the
world will be taken.
This ceremony will take place in the
Presidents library at the Executive
mansion and at the Presidents palace
in Paris simultaneously. The French
ambassador Is abroad. Ambassador
Bryce returned to Washington from
Maine for the exchange of signatures.
As soon as the treaty can be re-
ceived from Paris the President will
send both the French and the English
to the Senate for ratifica-
ton. They may be acted on during the
extra session or they may have to go
over until December.
Party at Ceremony.
President Taft, Secretary of State
Knox, Ambassador Bryce. Chandler An
derson, solicitor of the State Depart
national law, and the French consul
general will compose the immediate par
ty at the White House ceremony. The
Secretary and the British ambassador
sign the heavy scroll in duplicate.
The French treaty will be signed by
Secretary with Viscounte Saint Phalle,
vice consul at New York as witness.
President Taft took no part in the pre-
liminary exchange
Surrounding the immediate party will
be the members of the Presidents Cab
met Behind them will stand a number
of newspaper men whom the President
has invited to witness the impressive
interna tional event. There will be no
other invited guests.
The signing will take place in the most
historic chamber of the White House.
This is the private study OF the Presi-
dent. 1t was here that the treaty of
peace between this country and Spain
dent Lincoln held many Of the gravest
conferences of civil war times.
Bound to Peace.
BY today's act the three countries in
volved bind themselves to submit TO
arbitrat ton all issues of vital interest.
And these issues include questions OF
national honor and questions Of terri
tory. No such treaty has ever before
been negotiated between two great
powers.
In the past a question Of national
honor, an insult of one nation by an
other, was regarded as a matter beyond
the realm of arbitration. Only resort
to arms was regarded as an honore Ole
means of nvenging such a bio" at a
nations pride.
tions involving territory. An invasion
or an approprfation OF one nations ter
rttory by another was not matter.
according to the standards Of the past,
which might be submitted to an arbi-
trail court for adjustment II one peo-
pie placed a hostile foot on the terri
tory of another, the act meant war;
and nothing else.
All Changed.
Today, however, the three greatest
powers in the world agree among them
selves that they will submit all such
questions to arbitration.
That other nations will fall into line
and negotiate similar treaties is fore
gone conclusion. The moral force of
three Of the greatest peoples Of the
earth in such q pact will soon be felt.
and Germany, japan, and Russia are
expected soon to enter the brotherhood.
Prom the standpoint, Of the world s
peace and the worlds happiness, there
fore. today's simple ceremony in the
White House Is probably the most i'm
portant move In q century. History
was made when the signatures were
exchanged between the representatives
of these three powerful nations.