The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-12-17
TAFT'S PEACE PACT ! BY NO MEANS NEW The Same Thing Was Tried
 Twenty Years Ago rr
 SCOPE IS BROADER
Presidents Proposed Treaties Take
 in Almost Every Matter That Could Come Up Between Two .ss Individual Governments
Ny RopERrcK CLIFFORD

Washington December 16.-(Special.)- When year ago President Taft proposed to adopt arbitration treaties with foreign powers, the whole world was thrilled by the magnitude of the action, but the peo- pie of the United States, so often prone to do so, seemed to have forgotten that the United States Senate had, 21 years be- fore, taken a similar action with as far reaching effects.
 The peace policy of the United States is by no means new; on the contrary Is nearly as old as the country itself. For more than hundred years this country has stood for arbitration of international disputes, but it was not until 1890 that the Senate adopted resolution which made the policy more all embracing than be- fore. 9E
 In the nations infancy the obvious course to pursue was the safest one, when question of international affairs came to the front. Weak as compared to the other powers century ago, 1t was necessary for the pilots of the government to adopt policies which would keep the country out of the clutches of devastating and lm- poverishing warfares. International com-
  ment of the weaker nations involved and none knew this better than those states men who directed the early affairs of the United States.
 With the whole of Europe aflame with international strife, strong object les- son in the benefits of peace was admin istered to this country. In consequence the Congress did it's best to adopt policies which would permit of the peaceable ar ,i of alIt tf,tp a This policy was closely adhered to and many say the nation owes its existence in a great part to It's non-belligerent atti- tude during the past century.
 Careful consideration of all these im- portant factors make doubly interesting the arbitration treaties between the United States and England and France, now pending before the Senate for ratification The message of President Taft on for eign relations read before both houses of Congress December ', urges that these treaties be ratified. Three particularly interesting points in connection with these treaties challenge attention. First, the broad scope of the treaties themselves, which do not exclude from arbitration matters of vital interest and nationa, honor.
 Second, the attitude of the Senate. which at the present time does not seem to en- certain a particularly cordial view of the desired ratification.
 Third that the subject of these treaties is essentially non-partisan matter.
 The scope of the proposed treaties is un- usually broad. It is specifically stated that amy disputes or differences may be referred to arbitration" This includes even questions in which the national honor Is involved. It seems that with advanced civilization the country abhors the idea of going to war even though matters near to the heart of Americans are involved. s Witness the fact that there are no ru- mors of war over the treatment which Americans of the Jewish faith have re- ceived in Russia. Many another country would have declared war an hour after the news was received.
 It is hard to account for the lack fof en- thusiasm with which the Senate has re- ceived the proposition of the ratification of these treaties
 Political parties seem to have allowed their feelings, if they have any, to lie dormant as far as the peace treaties are concerned. Nor is the attitude of the Sen ate due to partisan division. The apathy it exhibits spreads over both parties.
 On Febuary II, 1890, the United States Senate adopted a resolution calling on the President to initiate negotiations with foreign governments on the subject of ar bitration treaties. This was merely a re- vival of the old time policy of the nation, which brought the question formally be- fore the people.
 Three months later the House of Repre- sentatives concurred in the Senate reso- lution. It was not until three years later that the British house of commons adopt ed a reciprocal resolution. The resolution expressed the hope that the government would put itself on record as manifesting all inclination to cooperate with the