Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-08-06
ENGLISH AND FRENCH
PROVIDE FOR PEACE
Permanent Arbitration Court to Set
tie Disputes Between Nations.
FINANCES OF TWO COUNTRIES
United States to Cooperate With
Honduras and Nicaragua in
Refunding Of Their Debts.
Not Yet Ratified.

er unusual but not unprecedented course
Of making public the text of four treaties
which have not yet received action at it's
hands These were the Anglo American
tration treaties and the treaties provid-
ing for the adjustment of the finances
and customs of Honduras and Nicaragua.
Publicity was given to these important
conventions at the request Of the ad-
ministration. which desires that the sub
ject matter shall receive the fullest con-
sideration by the press and the people in
order to enlighten the Senate as to the
real sentiment of the country as a basis
for its own action.
Some justification for this procedure Ge-
veloped yesterday when in the course Of
a short executive session two senators of
opposite parties, Borah of Idaho and Ba-
con Of Georgia. voiced their dissent to the
conclusion Of the arbitration treaties in
the forms submitted.
Say It Deprives Senate of Rights.
Their criticism was aimed at article 8
identical in the two treaties), which, in
their opinion, provides for compulsory
arbitration and thus tends to deprive the
United States Senate of it's constitutional
prerogative. The treaty advocates. how
ever. felt that. there had been a mis-
understanding of the scope of the treaty
clause in article of the treaties, which
provides that there shall be no arbitra-
ton except under the terms Of a special
agreement, effectively guards the rights
of the Senate, as such special agreement
shall receive the Senate's sanction in
order to become operative.
Aside from few minutes talk in COM
mittee and very short debate in execu-
tive session Of the Senate. the treatment
Of the subject was purely formal The
Senate went into executive session almost
as soon as it convened for the sole pur-
pose of referring the treaties, which had
been received from the President Friday,
to the committee on foreign relations.
Probably they would have been made
public at the same time had not Chair
man Cullom, vOicing a suggestion by Sena-
tor Root, taken the ground it would be
better to permit the committee first to
inspect the documents.
The committee met yesterday afternoon
treaties public, which received the i'm
mediate approval of the Senate when
that body again went into executive ses-
sion shortly afterward.
Treaties Practically the Same.
The British and French treaties are
substantially the same, with the exception
of the preambes. some small differences
In dates of existing treaties referred to
therein. and some Of the mechanical diff
ferences between the treaty making
methods of the two governments. One
important provision Of the British treaty
requires the British government to OBJ
tain the concurrence OF any OF It's sell
governing dominions affected by the pro-
posed arbitration.
No date has yet been set for the con-
sideration of the treaties by the Senate
committee on foreign relations. In the
ordinary course it will meet next We'd
nesday, but there are indica tions that in
view of the short time remaining OF the
present session one or more special meet
ings may be called before that day.
1t is impossible to predict what the
Senate will do with the committees re-
port when it is made, but in view OF the
great press OF important legislative mat
ters it would be easy to prevent ratlflca-
ton of these treaties during the present
session if any considerable degree of op-
position developed.
In view of their importance, it is eX-
pected that a motion may be made to
ra;ify them in the open Senate, an al
most unprecedented procedure.
Text of the Treaty.
The text of the British treaty, which
is practically Identical to the French
treaty. with the few exceptions above
noted, is as follows:
The United States of America and his
majesty the King of the United Kingdom
of Great Britain and Ireland and of the
British dominions beyond the seas, Em-
peror of India. being equally desirous of
perpetuating the peace which has happily
existed between the two nations. as es-
! tablished in 1914 by the treaty of 'Ghent.
and has never since been interrupted by
an appeal to arms and which has been
confirmed and strengthened in recent
wears by number of treaties whereby
pending controversies have been adjusted
nv agreement or settled by arbitrat ton
| or otherwise provided for, so that now for
the first time there are no important
| questions of difference outstanding be-
| tween them, and being resolved that no
future differences shall be cause OF
hoStilities between them or interrupt their
good relations and friendship;
The high contracting parties have.
therefore. determined, in furtherance of
these ends, to conclude treaty extend
! ing the scope and obligations of the policy
! of arbitration adopted in their present
arbitration treaty of April 4. 1908, SO as
| to exclude certain exceptions contained
| in that treaty and to provide means for
| the peaceful solution of all questions of
difference which it shall be found inn
possible in future to settle by diplomacy,
and for that purpose they have appointed
as their respective plenipotentiaries:
| THE President Of the United States of
America, the Hon. Philander C.
| Knox, Secretary of state of the
| United States; and
His Britannia majesty, the Right Hon.
James Bryce, o. NJ, his ambassa-
| dor xtraordinary and plenipoten-
| tiary at Washington;
| who having communicated to one
| another their full powers, found in
good and due form. have agreed upon
| the following articles:
Permanent Arbitration Court.
/