The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1911-05-18
DRAFT OF
PEACE PACT
Submitted by Secretary Knox
to Ambassadors
FRANCE ALSO INCLUDED
Document Provides That All Differences
Which Are internationally Justi-
fable Shall Be Submitted
to Arbitration.

Washington, May ls.-The principle
OF arbitration between nations over
questions OF vital interest and national
honor was summed vitality yesterday
when Secretary of State Knox submit
ted to the British and French ambas-
sailors at Washington the draft OF
convention to serve as basis of nego-
tiations. The fact that this world move
ment would be inaugurated with France
as well as Great Britain came as great
surprise, as II was generally under
stood that only the United States and
England were concerned in the initial
steps.
When President Taft last December
enmciated the doctrine of comprehen.
sive arbitration, he received a quick re-
spouse from Ambassadors Bryce and
Jusserand that Great Britain and France
were willing to begin negotiations with
this country for the peaceful settle
ment Of all differences that may arise.
The president instructed Secretary Knox
to crystalline the arbitral position which
this government would offer to foreign
nations.
The secretary has evolved a docu-
ment, which has received the approval
Of the president and the other members
of his cabinet, providing that all differ
ences that are internationally justitiable
shall be submitted to arbitration Ii ex-
pands the scope of the existing arbitra-
tion treaties by eliminating the excep-
tions referring to Questions of vital
interest and national honor This elm
nation is the real accomplishment of
the proposed treaty. The exceptions
mentioned are found in arbitration
treaties the world over and have con-
stituted the chief obstacle to the APP
plication of the arbitration principle,
for it is hard TO conceive of prob
lem which in its essence cannot be re-
gsrded as having controlling bearing
upon national honor or vital inter
est"
Recognizing that there may be ques-
tions of policy and other matters like
~ TO force nations to the brink of war
but which no people would be willing
to arbitrate, the tentative draft OF the
treaty provides that differences that
either party considers within the cate
CORY shall be referred TO committee
of inquiry empowered to make recon-
mendations for their settlement. The
treaty will bind the disputants to ar
bitration in case the commission of in
quiry declares that the controversy shall
be arbitrated.
Arbitration in all cases will be a last
resort. After the two countries have
concluded that it is impossible to set.
tie dispute through diplomatic inter
change, the question viii be submitted
to commission of inquiry charged with
the duty Of suggesting way to avoid
arbitration IL possible
The United States will not be asked
to relinquish its right TO pass upon the
question of arbitrating each dispute.
All agreements to arbitrate will be en-
tered into with "the advice and con-
sent OF the Senate as under existing
conventions.
The tentative draft Of the proposed
treaty was described by Secretary Knox
yesterday in the following official state
ment. which he said was as specific as
III could be made at the present timer
"The general features of the draft are
these; II expands the scope of our ex-
isting general arbitration agreements by
eliminating the exceptions contained in
existing ones of questions of vital in
terest and national honor
1t is proposed that ell differences that
are internationally iustifable shall be
submitted to The Hague tribunal, UNI
less by special agreement some other
tribunal Is created or selected
st provides that differences that eth
er country thinks are not international
" iustifable shall be referred to a com.
mission of inquiry with power to make
recommendations for their settlement.
This commission to be made up of ma
tionals Of the two governments who are
members Of The Hague court.
"Should the commission decide that
the difference should be arbitrated this
decision is to be binding.
"Arbitrations are to be conducted UNI
der terms OF submission subject to the
advice and consent of the Senate.
Before arbitration is resorted to even
in cases where both countries agree that
the difference is one susceptible of arbit-
raj decision, the commission Of in
quiry shall investigate the difference
with a view of recommending a settle
ment that will preclude the necessity of
arbitration The action of this com
mission is not to have the effect of an
arbitral award.
"The other features of the draft deal
mainly with the machinery of the com
mission and other essential details"
The submission of the drafts to Great
Britain and France marks the actual be-
ginning of negotiations. 1t is the de-
sire of the administration to complete
the negotiations if possible in time for
submission to the Senate before the adj
iournment of the present session of Con-
gress,