The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1911-08-08
IMMEDIATE RATIFICATION.

IT has hecn surmised in dispatches
from Washington, that there would be no
immediate pressure for the ratification
Of the unreserved arbitration treaty at
the present extra session of Congress
But President Taft has evidently be-
come enthusiastic at the favorable re-
cepton of that treaty. and now 1t is
announced that he will exercise pres
sure for the immediate consideration of
the treaty by the Senate.
And really there is no reason ap-
parent why this ratification should not
be immediate There is nothing to gain
by delay, but there might be some
thing TO lose. Prompt ratification will
convey TO the world the hearty assent
Of the United States to the treaty, and
would probably accelerate the readiness
of Germany and Japan also to join with
lis in this same form of treaty. On
the other hand, if there is opposition,
factiousness, and delay, the opposite
tendency would prevail; Germany and
Japan would consider an obstructive
opposition to this treaty on the part
of the w. S, Senate as discomfort on
the part of the people of the United
to it's terms and purposes. meaning
something wrong with the treaty itself.
But it is hardly conceivable that
there would be any real opposition by
the United States to the terms and
purposes of that treaty, The only oppo-
sition so far developed is purely tech
nical and touchy. A few Senators, IT
appears, consider that the Senate IS pre-"
rogative would be invaded by the
terms of the treaty in case ratifica-
tion is made. But, as explained by Sec
retary Knox, there is no invasion in
tended and, in fact, there is no such
invasion. The omission from section
three Of the functions or offices of the
because the full authority and jurisdic-
tion Of the Senate is recognized in the
provision for the tribunal created to
investigate and report upon points OF
difference between the United States
and either of the nations to which. 1t is
pledged by virtue of the terms of this
treaty. The full authority and power
Of the Senate being recognized in the
creation of this body. there is surely
nothing else of which to complain. The
findings made by that body are not to
be reviewed by the Senate, nor is there
any reason why they should be 80 re-
viewed, because those findings are
merely to the end that the points Of
difference may be clearly stated, and
prepared for the arbitration which is
expected to ensue.
There being no objection to the
treaty, except on this technical point,
and that technical point being fully
covered in the preceding section, there
would appear to be no reason why the
Senate should not agree to the treaty.
The point possibly had in mind by those
who make the technical objection TO
section three is, that the Senate should
receive the report Of the body created
to clarity the situation for arbitration
and pass upon the report made by thar
body But, there would appear to be
no reason why the Senate should either
ask or expect this, any more than that it
should expect to pass upon the briefs
of the counsel for the United States
before the arbitration court, The re.
port of the body created by and with
the consent of the Senate to formulate
the case, is simply process in the ne
gotiation, and there would appear TO
be no reason why that step should be
reviewed by the Senate any more than
the other steps taken as the negotiations
proceed. We Judge, therefore, that the
explanation OF Secretary Knox will do
away with the technical objection
raised; and this done away with, there
would really appear to be no. reason
why the Presidents desire should not
be granted, and immediate action taken
upon the treaty.