The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-08-17
AMEND TREATIES
To GET ACTION
FOREIGN RELATIoNs COMMITTEE
FEARS SENATE RIGHTS ARE
TAKEN AWAY.
MAY YET GET THROUGH
rREsInENr AND SECRETARY on
STATE KNOX CERTAIN rat
MONROE DOCTRINE Il
NOT INVOLVED,
MAY YET GET THROUGH
Nv VICTOR ELLIOTT

Advocates al the British aud Frsneh
arbitration treaties in the Senate have
cached the conclusion that Il prob
ably VIII be necessary TO amend the
conventions in order TO get favorable
action on them This conclusion IS
the result of consideration II the doc
umentS hy the Senate committee on
foreign relations, which has taken
them up IN vigorous fashion.
The foreign relations committee At
two proionge d sessions hetd recently
had The treaties under consideration.
Secretary Of State Knox appeared and
was especially anxious so convince the
committee ihat none ol~the senate's
constitutional rights ia regard to
treaty making are Jv0pardlxed in the
proposed conventions
Especial objection Was made BY
senators 10 the provision submitting
questions Of difference to a Joint high
commission OF inquiry. and fault was
also found with the provision ia the
French treaty authorizing RATIFICATION
h3 that government In accordance
with the procedure required hs the
laws Of rance. and with the condt-
tion ~ the British treaty that mat
ters affecting dependencies Of Great
Britain shall be submitted tn the gov
= .sr4449ts-a4 ~ II -s...-l4- aepeHae4te4Ae r-
1t was thought that the latter clause
might lead to undesirable eompticas
lions, while the former might neces-
state 4 change IN the method OF pro-
eedure In this country
Despite these objections. IL can he
seen that the power conferred upon
the Joint commission is the one real
obstacle 10 early action, several Sen
ators have expressed nnaitefabie on
position 10 this provision AMI more
than one suggestions was made that
his clause should be eliminated. or
- least materially modified
Monroe Doctrine Not Involved
Opposition to the treaties on the
ground thai the Monroe doctrine
would virtually be abroeated SO far
as Great Britain and France ara con
cerned and IL not taken seriously Us
the President or by Secretary Knox
The President has explained that the
Monroe doctrine IS an American pol
tea recognized hy all European pow ers
The arbitration treaties, said Frest-
dent Taft, do not provide that poll
oaes or any party To them shall be
submitted To arbitration.
Questions arising under the Monroe
doctrine might be referred 10 q joint
high commission provided for in the
trai court. The cornmisslous recon-
mendatious under the treaties are not
absolutely binding.
So serious we're the objections urged
that when the committee adjourned
Without taking any definite action It.
rs "a With tho understanding that some
IL the members should confer with
Secretary knQA and see If the objet-
TONS could not b." overcome. Some Of
fhe members OF tho committee insist
that unless these objections can lac
eliminated they viii he una bile Ia come
10 an agreement on the treatles.-A
suggestion WAS made 10 allow the
81 hole matter to lie over until Hn&t
December. bat the friends Of the
treaties on the committee We're able
III torc@tali any such action
The Importance and extent of this
criticism has been brought 10 the
presidents attention, and some OF the
tnembe of the committee have con
'erred with MIN 10 see If II ~ pos
sibie 10 change or modify the clause
pertaining to the joint commission.
several senators viii urge the can
collation. Of tIiJ vision Many
members 81 sue committee express
tfeHseis - "a friendly 10 the general
proposition involved in the treaties
So II5a go az tar IS to say that seit1i a
it" Chsnges IL might he possible to
get favorable action during The pres.
snt session Of congress
Iariy Action Desired
Action at this session L. IA accord
ahce with the wishes of President
Taft and Secretary knuA They es-
peeiaii urge immediate action for the
ratification Of the treaties There
4e remote possibility that the
treaties wall be reported ct this SEES
sion.
Many amendments have been pro-
posed by members of the commit
tee, and nearly All Of them tend tn
nuilify the clause relating to The joint
proposed amendments Is 10 reserv,
high commission. The purpose OF the
proposed amendments is to reserv
without qualification to the senate
tie right % determine whether OF
not dispute shall be submitted fol
arbitration II ~ thought that if
the amendments should be adotprd
Tie treaty Nll be stripped of most
OF It's force, except az "a general ex-
Preston q pe@eeakle Intentions OF
the part Of The powers signing it,
iu reply 10 the attack upon the
treaties, Secretary Knox said that il
ratifyiug any general treaty the sen
ate woud be exercising its powers
regarding treaty making Meeting
the contention. senator's urged the
right and duty Of the senate under
the constitution to pass separately
Upon ali conventions with other couu-
tries They did not believe that the
. senate had the right 70 delegate thi,
power Secretary Knox IS equally aa
Roasti9@ that th&E@ w&rukeA E4 uesth@t
abrogation nor delegation Of any 81
the powers Of the senate.
Even II the treaties fail TO pass thf
session. President Tart VIII regard the
situation with sQuanimity He has
scored point Ia getting the docu-
ments published, anu believes that thu
pacts Viii grow In public favor as they
are anaiyzed more.
Another factor that is expected &
ase fHvora BILE consideration OF ths
treaties is the meeting In Ssptena Der ot
the International Waterways Com
mission the creation ~ which Irac
licaliy biazed the way for the nego
iiat!on Of the arbitration frea ties
Originally planned TO settle Iona
standing issues between the Unite,
States anu Canada regarding waite
boundaries. Its functions were SO ex
tended by Secretary Root as to con
stitute IL permanent Arbitration
board, with almost unlimited power
To- adjust disputes between the tx,
countries
Minors 20 Wed
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