New-York tribune., 1911-12-15
Abrogation Resolution Likely To
Be in Presidents Hands Be-
fore Holiday Recess
of Congress.
RUSSIA SEEMS INDIFFERENT
snlzer Resolution Referred to
Foreign Relations Committee,
Which Agrees to Report
1t Monday-Prompt
Action Urged.

Washington. Dec. 14.-The Senate dis
covering that it would he necessary to
serve notice on the Russian government
befora January in order To terminate
the treaty Of 1872 before 1914, recon
sidered its programme to-day, and took
,teps 10 pass the resolution denouncing
the treaty before the holiday recess.
The Sulzer measure. which passed the
House. and is Identical with the reSolu-
,ior introduced by Senator Culberson.
was referred to the Committee on For
ejgn Relations. The committee will meet
next Monday and probably will report
back on the same day. IL is probable
that . vote will he taken Immediately by
the Senate and that the resolution will
be in the Presidents hands before Con-
eress adjourns for the holidays, although
IN his message he practically suggested
that no action he taken until he made
further report on the progress Of diplo-
matte negotiations now pending.
The Senate was about TO adjourn. when
Mr.. Culberson arose 10 call attention to
the terms of the treaty. which provide
that it is to remain i'm force for year
dating from January I. following the
giving Of notice 10y either government OF
intention to terminate il. If action were
DELAYED by the Senate until after the
holidays. the year the treaty is TO run
after notice is given would not begin
until January !. 1913. and it would re-
main in force, therefore. until January
/, 1914 If notice is given by the United
States before the expiration of the pres
ent year. the treaty will be terminated
on December 81, 1912.
81 desire" said Senator Culbcrson, "to
give notice 10 the Senate and to the pub
lie of the peculiar provisions Of the
treaty. Rather than delay the termina-
ton of this treaty until 1914 I will sug-
gest that the Senate take it up ON Mon
day without a report from the Com
mittee on Foreign Relations. unless it
can be considered and reported before
that time
Cullom Promises Action.
Senator Cullom. chairman + the COM
mittee. while agreeing with Senator Cul-
berson that there should not be SO long
delay in bringing the treaty to an end,
said that the resolution could be con-
sdered and reported on the same day,
but insisted that the committee scruti-
nize its wording TO make certain that il
conforms 70 the provisions Of the treaty.
Senator Clarke, Of Arkansas. thereupon
went step further. and said that such
curse Of action was a mere matter Of
form He intimated that if the com
mittee considered it at all it should de-
termine whether or not the State De-
partment had done what it could diplo-
matcally to remedy the situation. He
added that he was willing 10 vote at
once, and 10 vote aye" Senator Bacon
and Senator Lodge both came to the de-
fence Of the State Department asserting
that 1t had done everything that could
have been done
Senators Cullom and Lodge pleaded for
reference to the committee Both
pledged their utmost efforts TO obtain
committee action to permit the Senate
@ act on Monday
7 have no doubt that we can do it,"
said Senator Cullom. Mr.. Lodge added
his assurance to the same effect.
Senator Rayner was somewhat skepti-
cal As 70 the committees ability to agree
within that time. He pointed out the
possibility Of differences Of opinion
The time has come for determina-
ton of this question" he said THE
argument is all one way. The treaty
has been violated for the last forty
years. Time and again we have yielded.
We should act now"
The President has told US" said Mr..
Culom. that he is at work on the
question and will have something ready
after the holidays, and the Secretary of
State assured me day or two since
That he expected 10 accomplish some
Wing Of value 10 the country"
Finally the House resolution was re-
ierred TO the Foreign Relations Com
nittee