The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-05-18
BOOST FOR ARBITRATION
France, England and U. S. to Join in
Negotiations.

Washington, May 1S.-The princi-
pie of arbitration of practically all dis
putes between nations, including ques-
t1ons of vital interest and national
tary of State Knox submitted to the
British and French ambassadors at
Washington the draft of a convention
to serve as a basis of negotiations.
The fact that this movement would be
linaugurated with France as well as
Great Britain came as a surprise, as
| it was generally understood that only
the United States and England were
concerned.
When President Taft last December
enunciated the doctrine of compre-
hensive arbitration, he received a
Bryce and Jusserand that Great
Britain and France were willing to be-
gin negotiations with this country for
| the peaceful settlement of practically
all differences that may arise. The
president instructed Secretary Knox
Immediately to crystalline the arbitral
proposition which this government
would offer TO foreign nations.
The secretary has evolved docu-
ment, which has received the approval
of the president and the other mem
bers of his cabinet, providing that all
differences which are internationally
| justiciable shall be submitted to arbi-
| tration. 1t expands the scope of the
existing arbitration treaties by elm
| mating the exceptions referring to
| questions of vital interest and ma
tional honor"
This elimination is the real accom-
plishment of the proposed treaty. The
exceptions mentioned are found in
arbitration treaties the world over AMI
| have constituted the chief obstacle to
the application of the arbitration prin-
| cipIe, for it is hard to conceive of
| problem which in it's essence can not
be regarded as having a controlling
bearing upon national honor" or
| vital interest"
I Recognizing that there may be ques-
lions of policy and other matters likely
| 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 consider within this cate
CORY shall be referred to a commission
| of inquiry empowered to make recon-
| mendations for their settlement. In
this connection the treaty will take
another advanced step by binding the
disputants to arbitration in case the
commission of inquiry declares that the
controversy shall be arbitrated.
Arbitration in all cases will be a last
| resort After the two countries have
coDcluded that it is impossible to settle
q dispute through diplomatic inter
| change, the question will be submitted
i
with the duty of suggesting a way to
avoid arbitration if possible.
The United States senate will not
| be asked to relinquish it's right to pass
upon the question of arbitration. Each
dispute and all agreements to arbitrate
will be entered into with the advice
and consent of the senate" as under
| existing conventions.
The submission of the drafts to Great
Britain and France marks the actual
| beginning of negotiations. The foreign
| offices of the two countries will now
make an exhaustive examination of the
American proposition with a view to
! suggesting notifications or additions II
| is the desire of the administration to
complete the negotiations if possible in
| time for submission to the senate be-
fore the adjournment of the present ses-
| sion of congress.
| The vast Importance of the proposed
arbitration treaty has been the subject
| of discussion in diplomatic circles here
| ever since the idea was suggested Now
| that this governments proposal has
| been reduced to concrete form the state
| department assumed a receptive role
willing to enter into negotiations or
| the same basis with all countries signi-
| flying a desire to do so.