The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1911-03-24
WASHINGTON LETTER.

&
There is much interest in diplomatic
and political circles in Washington con-
corning possible peace treaty between
the United States and Great Britain. a
treaty which will have the potential effect
of an alliance, although ii will not be
known BY that name. President Taft in
a recent speech on the subject of peace,
said that be thought all questions, even
including questions Of honor, might be
left to an international arbitration court.
and Earl Gray, minister of foreign af-
fairs, for Great Britain, III recent speech
referred to President Taft's speech and
spoke earnestly 10 favor of peace treaty
between the two great English speaking
nations. Those who have kept abreast
with current history will remember that
there have been two recent efforts to
secure ratification of peace treaties be-
tween Great Britain and this country.
but inasmuch as the final ratification
must depend npon the Senate, these
treaties struck snags in that body. Some
of these snags were removed on the 4th
of March last, and il is believed now that
the treaty will meet the approval of the
Senate and that Secretary Knox and
Ambassador Bryce are at work in prep.
aration of an agreement to be submit.
ted to Congress, 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 be.
tween this and the mother country, but,
as remarked, some Of the snags have been
removed. Senator Root Of New York.
who is chairman Of the Carnegie Peace
Foundation for which ten millions Of
dollars were recently donated by Mr..
Carnegie, will doubtless do everything
in his power in the Senate to promote
this peace entente. He was Secretary of
State during the second Roosevelt adj
ministration, and he is closely in touch
with pacific and philanthropic endeavor.
Mr.. Carnegie has said that if two great
nations like this country and England
could reach an agreement to submit ali
questions, even those involving honor, 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
irrepressible Irish section. John Dillon,
an Irish member in Parliament, says the
peace proposals make no provision for
small nationalities struggling against in
justice or seeking freedom and he in
sisted tAat peace proposals were but COM
binations of mighty empires for the 'pur-
pose of coercing others who would not
submit to arbitration. The Irish men,
Der is unhappy at anything that proposes
to stop row, big or little. The interfer-
ence Of the United States in Cuba for the
promotion of peace, or the probable in.
reference in Mexico for the same pur-
pose. the paciication Of the Soudan by
Great Britain or Great Britain's armed in
reference in India for the Suppression of
centuries of strife between the petty prin.
CAPABILITIES of that country are, by Mr..
Dillon's interpretation. coercion. Any
interference with mobocracy or anarchy
is according to this Irishmau, an later
ference with the rights OF man.
y.
Congress will reassemble in two weeks.
and there is of course much interest and
speculation with reference 10 what ii win
do. 1t is assumed that the Canadian
reciprocity treaty will be approved by the
Senate and there is expectation that some
of the important tariff schedules will be
lowered, or that an effort will at least be
made to lower them. II is deplorable
that politics mist enter so largely into
questions that should be purely econom-
ical and that both parties have heart and
eyes askance on the presidency in every
question that comes up for legislation.
There is much speculation with reference
TO political divisions ard combinations of
iusurge nts and stand. patters, progressive
and retrogressive Democrats. The seusa-
tional retirement of Senator Bailey of
Texas on the last day Of the last session
and his precipitate jump back into the
Senate il is thought considerably weak
ened such influence as he may have had
with the Democratic minority. He was
one Of the '.snags' that did not go on
the 4th of March.