Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-12-20

| 1882.
Press dispatches from ST. Peters
| burg indicate that such an answer al
ready has been handed to Mr.. Guild
| and the contents of the Russian note,
| as outlined in the dispatches are
| perhaps somewhat disappointing in
that they convey no response to the
direct statement by Secretary Knox
that America stands ready to open ne
e9tiations Immediately for new
| treaty.
Mr.. Lodge defended the action OF
President Taft in abrogating the Rus
/ sian treaty without congressional ac-
ton. Six treaties, he pointed out, had
been terminated by notice, the first by
Polk in 1877, the treaty with Great
| Britain. President Pierce, in 1855, ter
| minated by notice a provision of a
treaty with Denmark, after the Sen
ate had given it's authority in 1855.
President Mckinley terminated
clauses in the Swiss treaty of 1856
| without any congressional action
whatever, he declared.
"In four cases the President took the
4 initiative" said Senator Lodge, 'and r
two cases Joint action was asked This
shows the variety Of precedents of actor
| in the termination of treaty by notice
| Lodge said the termination of q treaty
| by notice was in no sense an abrogatior
| or denunciation, but was in accord
with the terms of the treaty itself. Ht
argued that where no executive action
| has been involved in the operation of the
| treaty, it was competent for the Presi,
| dent and the Senate to end treaty with
out the cooperation of the House.
Much attention was given by Mr.. Lodge
| TO the contention that delay would rem
der 1t impossible to terminate the treaty
for the next two years.
Russia has disregarded the terms of
| the treaty.. he said. ARTICLE | has been
violated by Russia, while it has been
| observed by the United States. and 4.
think it has been violated so rs to dis
criminate against a large element of
American citizens. It is intolerable that
| 1t should continue and constitutes a Sc
ries OF grievances that cannot be over
estimated"
The refusal of Russia to observe Article
of the treaty, he said. had put many
American citizens in n himiiating posi-
ton that should no longer be submitted
to-" An administration of either party
had, he declared, used their best efforts
to obtain improved conditions, but with
out result. He urged the use of temper
ate language in discussing the situation.
so as not to hamper the President in his
diplomatic effort
Root concurred in the view that the
existing treaty must remain unsatsfacto-
~ and injurious, but he found in the
first article of the treaty recognition
by the United States of Russia's right 70
prohibit the emigration of its subjects. In
fact, at that time the United States itself
had adhered to the doctrine of indefeas-
ible allegiance and in making the agree
ment each country had acknowledged
The right of the other to control the
movements of its own people.
That was before the great tide of
immigration to this country began
circumstance which had caused the
United States to change its attitude
on the question of expatriation BY
statute the rest of the individual o
choose his own place of residence has
been SO explicitly recognized that it
amounted almost to a repeal of the
Russian treaty. Moreover most other
countries had followed the example
of the great republic.
In consequence of this revolution,
he declared that the maintenance of
the treaty was inconsistent with the
attitude of the civilized world
THE first and greatest reason for
terminating the treaty is that we may
set ourselves right with ourselves. y
he said, 'and I think that the time
has come when consistency with re-
gard To our own principles requires
us to give the notice of termination
provided for by the treaty itself
How does the senator reconcile the
declaration of the natural and political
right of expatriation with our Chinese
policy ?" asked Bailey, abruptly break
ing into the New York senator's
speech.
Mr.. Root pointed to the statute of
1865 declaring the right of expatria-
ton which was, he said, the final and
authoritative pronouncement on that
point.
He admonished caution in this pro-
eeeding with Russia.
1T behooves us to act conservative
~ and cautiously in the official use
of language about this treaty, lest We
find ourselves betrayed into assertions
which may come back TO plague u.s."
he said. He referred to the fact that
Russia has many millions of Mongoli-
an subjects which he said the United
States would not admit. treaty or ma
treaty.
Senator Stone, Mo-, a member of
the committee on foreign relations and
u Democrat, criticized the course ad-
Nised by the President in terminating
the treaty. Regarding treaties as part
of the supreme law of the land. he
considered an act to Congress neees-
sary to put an end TO the operation
OF one of them. He sustained the ac-
ton of the committee, however. In
supporting the President in his notifi-
cation to Russia and dropped a word
of counsel to his party. Declaring him
self to be an extreme partisan, he
said:
IN dealing with a great interna-
tional question like this, the best pol
itics we can play is to act on a high
plane, with an eye single to the gen
|eral welfare. The Democratic party
has good chance to come into it's