Middletown transcript., 1911-03-25
WASHINGTON LETTER


concerning possible peace treaty betweet
the United States and Great Britain, 8
treaty which will have the potential effect
Of an alliance, although it will not be
known by that name. President Taft in
recent speech on the subject OF peace,
said that he fought all questions, even in
cluding questions Of honor, might be left
70 an international arbitration court, and
Earl Gray, minister OF foreign affairs for
Great Britain, in a recent epeech referred
to President Taft's speech and spoke earn
estly in favor Of peace treaty between
the tao great Engish-speaking nations.
Those who have kept abreast with current
history will remember that there have
been two recent Efforts to secure a ratifi
cation of peace treaties between Great
Britain aud dtlFs country, but inasmuch as
the tinal ratification must depend upon
the Senate, these treaties struck snsgs in
that body. Some Of those snags were re-
moved on the 4ih Of March last, and il is
believed now that the treaty will meet
the approval Of the Senate and that Secre-
tary Knox aud Ambassador Bryce are at
work in preparation of an agreement to be
submitted to Copgress, though perhaps
not earlier than the regular session which
will assemble next December. There will
doubtless be more or less opposition in
the Senate to friendly proposals between
this aud the mother country, bat, as re.
marked, some of the snags have been re-
moved, Senator Root of New York, who
is Chairman Of the Carnegie Peace Foun-
dation for which ten millions of dollars
we're recently donated by Mr.. Carnegie,
will doubtless do everything in bis power
in the Senate to promote this peace en-.
tente. He was Secretary Of State during
the second Roosevelt administration, and
he is closely in touch with pacific and
philanthropic eDdeavor. Mr.. Carnegie
has said that if two great nations like this
country and England could reach an agree
ment to submit all questions, even those
involving homer, to an arbitration court,
it would not be long before the other
powerful nations would fall into line.
-
As might be expected, the FIRST kick
against Efforts at peace, comes from the
irrepressibIe Irish section. John Dillon,
an Irish member iu Parliament, Gays the
peace proposals make no provision for
smell nationalities struggling against in
justice or seeking freedom, aud lie insisted
that peace proposals were but combina.
tions of mighty empires Tor the purpose
of coercing others who would not submit
to arbitration. The Irish member is un-
happy at anything that proposes to stop
row, big or little. The interference of
the United States in Cuba for the promo
tion Of peace, or the probable interference
in Mexico for the same purpose, the paci.
tication of the Soudan by Great Britain's
armed interference in India for the sup.
preston Of centuries Of strife between the
petty principaliGies of that country are, by
Mr.. DiIlon's Interpretation, coercion. Any
interference with mobocracy or anarchy
Is according to this ITishman, an iuterfer.
snce with the rights of man.
~
Congress will reassembIe in two weeks,
md there is of course much interest and |
Ipeculation with reference to what it will |
10. 1t is assumed that the Canadian re-
'iprocity treaty will be approved by the
Senate and there is expectation that some
'fthe important tariff schedules will be
oWered, or that an effort will at least be
made to lower them. It is deplorable
hat politics must enter so largely into
questions that shouId be purely economi-
al and that both parties have heart and
yes askance on the presidency, in every
question that comes up for legislation.
There is much speculation with reference
o political divisions aud com binations Of
Insurgents and stand-patters, progressive
nd retrogressive Democrats. The sensa-
ional retirement of Senator Bailey of
lexas on the last day Of the last session
nd his precipitate jump back into The
enate it is thought has considerably
such influence as he may have
ad with the Democratic minority. He
las one ofthe ''snags" that did net 60 on
he 4sh of March.