The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-05-18
Arbitration Last Resort

| l resort after the two countries Nave concluded that It is impossible to sefS a dispute through diplomatic intery change.
 The United States Senate will not be asked to relinquish it's right to pass upon the question of arbltrating each dispute. All agreements to arbitrate will be entered into with "the advice and consent of the Senate" as under existing conventions The tentative draft was described by Secretary Knox today in the following official state ment which, he said, was as specific as could be made now:
 "The department has completed q draft of general arbitration treaty which has been approved by the Pres ident and will be submitted to the French and British ambassadors as a formula upon which this government Is now willing to enter into negotiations using this tentative draft as a basis.
 This draft is not the result of ne- gotiations with any particular country, but represents what this government believes to be a sound basis for nego- tiations for the extension of the scope of it's arbitration treaties.
 Tt has been sent to the French and British ambassadors because they had indicated the desire of their countries to discuss the subject of general treaty of arbitration which would in- clude all differences that might arise with this country.
 "The general features of the draft are these:
 "It expands the scope of our existing general association agreements by eliminating the exceptions contained in existing ones of questions of vital in terest and national honor.
 "It is proposed that all differences that are internationally justifiable shall be submitted to The Hague tribunal unless by special agreement some other tribunal is created or selected.
 ".It provides that differences that either country thinks are not internationally tustifiable shall be referred to commits sion of inquiry with power to make rec concentrations for their settlement. This commission to be made up of officials of the two governments who are members of The Hague court
 Decision Binding ".Should the commission decide that the difference should be arbtrated, this de- cision is to be binding. | Arbitration Is to be conducted under terms of submission subject to the aovice 1 and consent of the Senate. s'Before arbitration is resorted to. even l in cases where both countries agree that l the difference Is one susceptible of arbitral decision, the commission of inquiry shall | investigate the difference with view | of recommending a settlement that will | preclude the necessity of arbitration. me | action of this commission Is not to have l the effect of an arbitral award. The
 commission, at request of either govern nent shall delay its findings one year to
 give opportunity for diplomatic settle l ment.'
 | .The other features of the draft deal
 mainly with the machinery of the com l mission and other incidental details' | The submission of the drafts to Great 1 Britain and France, marks the actual be- | ginning of negotiations. The foreign off | Ace of the two countries will now make an exhaustive examination of the Amer ican proposition with view to suggest inp notifications or additions. 1t is the l desire of the administration to complete the negotiations if possible in time for | submission to the Senate before the ad- | journment of the present session of Con- | gress.
 | Now that this governments proposal | has been reduced to concrete form. the
 state department assumes receptive roll. i willing to enter into negotiations on the | same basis with all countries signifyirg
 a desire to do so. It has been rumored
 that Japan was anxious to join in the ns-
 sotiations.