Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1911-12-19
President Taft, to Avoid Posi-
Bile Complications, Himself
Disposes of Delicate Iotena-
tionaI Question,
REQUESTS SENATE
TO RATIFY ACTION
Task of Completing NuIIifiCa-
ton of Pact With Russia Is
Turned Over to Congress for
Final Approval,

IBy Morning Journal Special Leased wirel
Washington Dec. President
TAFT turned over To the senate to-day
the task of completing the abrogation
of the treaty of 1882 with Russia be-
cause ot alleged Determinations
against American Jews ignoring the
house of representatives. the presi-
dent sent a message 10 the senate an
nouucing that on Friday last he had
caused notice to be forwarded to St
Petersburg that the United States de-
sired the treaty To end January l.
1913. This notification WAS officially
handed to the representative of the
Russian government
MIR. Taft asked the senate TO ratilN
and give consent To his action
The foreign affairs committee Of
the senate voted unanimously to re-
port a resolution OF ratification couch
ed In diplomatic terms ana senator
Lodge offered It later In the senate.
There was every reason To believe
the resolution would he rushed
through, inasmuch as the senate COM
mittee, as an act of courtesy, had
decided that the house should be ask
ed TO concur IN the senates action.
senator Hepburn of Idaho, how
ever. after protesting against hasty
action, asserted his right under the
rules, and by formal objection threw
further consideration of the matter
over until tomorrow. Although tt
was evident tonight that politics
would enter into the fight tomorrW,
the prediction WAS made freely that
all objections would be overcome and
that before the senate adjourned the
committee resolution would he adopt
I'd as substitute Ger the house reso-
luton, which proved Objectionable to
the Russian goVernmcnt
Chairman Sul2er of the house com
mittee on foreign affairs, author of
the house resolution. said he believed
the matter would be adjusted salts
factorik and that the abrogatlon Of
the treaty would he accomplished be-
fore congress recessed Thursday
Democratic leaders IA both houses
are determined to claim credit for the
abrogntion OF the treaty. Senators
Culbcrson of Texas and Hitchcock of
Nebraska the latter member ot
the foreign relations COMMITTEES, serN-
preliminary notice TO this effect Ia
the senate today. Senator Culberson
accused President TAFT of trying to
strip the house Of one of its peroga-
! tivcs and asserted that the president
was trying to steal the democratic
! thunder
In his message to the senate Prosl-
dent TAFT transmitted a copy OF the
/ letter American Ambassador Guild
lat st. Petersburg had transmitted to
| the Russian foreign office, In II was
| EXPRESSED the view of tho United
states that the old treaty no longer
met the political principles or com.
mercial needs of the two nations, ana
/ should he terminated The American
government with marked courtesy
! suggested further that y would be
most agreeable to this country II
| new treaty could be negotiated to re-
| place the ancient and ontliNed docu-
mont
! Despite this overture TO the Rus
/ sian government, state deparlment OF.
Acials tonight practically admitted
there was little hope of negotiating
! new treaty.
state department officials do not
believe the heavy trade between the
/ United States and Russia necessarily
I would be- ieopardizcd by the nbroaa
tion of the treaty although u taritf
/ war is possible and Russia would have
/ the right Ia exclude American ships
/ from her ports American imports
/ from Russia approximate $i40oop poo
u year. principally on hides wool ana
skins The balance of Russian trade
I'M favor Of the United states Is VII
U00. 600
The foreign relations committee
| was In session nearly three hours to-
! day but the only points discussed
were whether the house should be
considered In the matter and whether
the senate should act IN open sssion.
II WINS decided To recognize the
house hy making the resolution rah-
| fSing the presidents action "A loinl one
and II further was decided TO debate
! the matter in open session senator
Hepburn later in the senate, protest
ed against this decision declaring the
matter should be taken up In eXeeu-
| tive session
senator Lodge prepared the resolu-
tton of ratification which the com
mlttee approved. It follows the text
of the presidents note to Russia in
lthc diplomacy OF It's expressions
There was no suggestion of viola =
tlon OF treaty pledges as In the house
document Senator Hitchcock reserV-
ed the right to oppose the Lodge reso-
luton In the senate and later intro
ducrd substitute which followed
the form Of the Sulzer resolution with
the declaration of a violation of trea-
lt nledpes by Russia left out.
Senator Culberson said tonight he
would not venture a prediction as to
how far the democrats would 60 in
their opposition to the Lodge resolu-
tion or any other resolution approv-
ing the action OF the president In tax
ma this matter ont Of the hands OF
icOngreSS.
There is feeling among the
democrats" he said that the presi-
dent is trying TO steal their thunder
think the country ought to be mad,
acquainted with the facts
with the message disposed OF II
the senate today, Mr.. Lodge present
ed tho report OF the committee ul