Albuquerque evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1911-1914, 1911-12-22
ARBITRATION FOR
STATE DEBTS IS
VISIONARY
John Sharp Williams Declares
That in His Opinion Gov
eminent Would Never Con-
sent to Such Plan.


could or would submit to arbitration
she question Of state debts"
This positive statement was made
by senator John sharp williams Of
Mississippi. when discussing the pend
ing arbitration treaties with France
ana Great Britain. u was not an on
hand declaration, out made after a
careful study of the Documents. SEN
ator williams. when member ~ the
house OF representatives. served long
tine on the Foreign Affairs committee.
ana has always given due attention toI
international affairs. Asked for al
more dennite statement ON the subject
OF the arbitration treaties as they re-
late to the old state claims. senator
Williams said.
n do not bclieve the United states
could aubmit a state debt To arbitra-
tlon. because u h not a national ques-
ton and Nsercforc could not become
an International one. The arbitration
treaties a. proposed refer In the first
place To questions hereafter arising.
That, II seems 20 me. would put al
auietua on the queation. secondly, II
refers TO 'inlernational matters, and
then In the third place. " says that
" either country shall suggest that o.
proposed question Is not iusticiabic.
Il shall be- referred 10 the Joint high
Commission OF inquiry three Of whom
would be- Americana. and that unless
tnnt commission decides unanimously.
or unless an hut one of them decide
that question In juHiicinbie. that II
viii not ge 80 under the treaty. II
you win notice the language IN Article
I, which ~ aa may be decided by
special agreement you will see that
II refers back. and by referring back.
you win ind that In each case the
hpcclai agreement will define the
scope OF the power OF the arbitSators
and will define the question or qucs-
tlons nj issue. cannot conceive that
the United states senate IN defining thu
scope OF the power II the arbitrators,
or In defining the question or questions
al issue would define question OF
state debt 20 be within their scope.
os az issue This IL especially OF i'm
portnnce. because In the next 10 the
last clause OF Article I. n Ia recited
that tine special aars ement In each
case shall be made upon the part OF
thu United states, by and with the aa.
vice and consent OF the senate !
can't conceive that two.thirds 81 thu
United states senate while defining
the scope OF the power of the arbi-
traitors. or the question or questions at
issue. would ever submit the Monroe
Doctrine or any phase Of Il. or would
ever submit the question Of Japanese
or Chinese immigration. or would ever
submit the question OF state debts
RS member that the Joint High
Commission has no powcr TO do any
thing except 'uron the request Of
either party to make impartial and
conscientious investigation and report
concerning any controversy between
the parties and even then the Ian
guage II that only " all, or oil but
one of the commission agree and re-
port that such difference u within the
scope Of Article 1, II shall be referred
10 arbitration In accordance With tina
provisions OF this treaty by refer
ring back to the language In Article l.
YOU will nnd what the words in ac-
cardance with the provisions Of this
treaty mean, 20 wit. that II II 10 be
arbltrated either by the permanent
court al the Hague or by some other
arbltyai tribunal as may 30 decided
upon In each case By special agree
mont which special agreement you
will remember. In the Language OF tht
treaty shall DO made on the part ol
the United states, by the president oi
the United States, by and with the ad'
vice and consent Of the senate. Now
the senate while giving It's consent de.
fnes the scope. etc. Ms ! have stated
In my opinion. the Joint Hlgi
Commission In the most valuable par
OF the treaty proposed: not because OF
what Il can do. but because 81 what u
can delay. IL gives time; 'coollnl
tlme;' because the first clause IN Ar
tlcie 2 PROVIDE, that a reference 1,
tho commlaslcs. even when requested
by one OF the parties. may be post
poned' by the other, or by either FOL
whole year after tho date OF the for
NAL request In order, "a use the Ian
guase OF the treaty. 20 AFFORD an op
portunity for diplomatic discussion
and adjustment
II do not believe that any govern
ment can submit 20 arbitration an
question except Il be n question con
stlfutInR a difference between II
nelf and another government. Their
never was any question between th
United slatea and any other govern
fDent concerning tho debts due by
state 10 lts bondholdera In the frs
place. the United siatea was not IN
debtor, and II there be foreign bond
holders who feel outraged by the &C
tlon OF any OF the states In refusing q
pay rcconstructlon or any other debit
there In a difference between ther
and tho state which refused to pa,
hut no difference 'iusslciablc' 0
otherwise. between them and the Unit
ed States, 80 that " any arbitration o
this question was ever 20 be had,
would DO by board evoked an
agreed upon by the state ana IN
bondholdcrs. who are the parties I
difference That sort OF an arhlsru
zion may now be had at any tim
when the two parties AZ dlncronc'
agree 70 have H. The Intervention q
ths United states would not only b
necessary bot would be az once absur
and lnnolent.
"You viii notice that Great Brltai