The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1911-12-21
BOND WITH RUSSIA
SEVERED BY TAFT;
CONGRESS TO ACT
Treaty Abrogated BY President
Who Calls On Legislative
Body to Ratifv naed

Washington, Dec. 19.--An objection
by Senator Hepburn. OF Idaho, who pro-
tested against precipitous action, pre-
vented the United States Senate for one
day at least from voting to approve the
action of President Taft. taken without
In notifying Russia that the United
States desired to terminate the treaty
OF 1882 with that country.
The Senate went into session at 2
o'clock this afternoon to ratify the
action of the president In notifying the
Russian government of the intention or
the United States to abrogate the
treaty. President Taft sent to h SEN
ate a message stating the course heg
had pursued.
President Taft served the notice OF
abrogation on the Russian ambassador,
George Bakhmeteff, at the white
House. 1t was this conference with the
ambassador which gave rise to the re-
port that a formal protest had been
entered by Russia against The language
Of the Sulzer resolution. 1t Is now said
that the notification that Russia would
be offended at the Sulzer resolution
came from American Ambassador Guild
at st. Petersburg.
COMMITTEES Takes Action.
Later the president advised the Tor
eign relations committee of the Sem
alto of the executive steps taken. The
pSIldbt COIutilltlCo Llet III oIlC6t iCCOltA-
mended that the Senate act with the
House in carrying out the abrogation
of the pact. Under the notice to Rus
STA n under the terms Of the treaty
itself, the aggregation will be effective
January 1, 1919.
The presidents message was read to
the Senate in open session soon after
1t convened. He stated he tool the
matter up with the Russian ambassa-
dor in this city Friday last. The off-
cial declaration of the intention to
abrogate did not reach the Russian
government until yesterday.
Immediately after the presidents
message had been read Senator Lodge
presented the resolution agreed on by
the foreign relations committee and Of
resolution passed by the House.
h lodge resolution recited that
President Taft had on December IL
caused to be presented to the imperial
Russian government at st. Petersburg
notice that the treaty would be abro-
gated. The resolution approved this
action, declaring that the treaty be-
tween the two countries no longer was
responsible to the political principles
or the commercial needs of either.
Message Is Withheld.
President Taft, with the Idea that
his message might be considered In ex-
ecutive session OF the Senate, sent no
copies of 1t to the capitol and none
We're given out at the White House.
The committee resolution concluded:
Therefore" be 1t resolved by the
Senate and the House of Representa-
ttves that the notice given by the pres
ident of the United States to the empire
of Russia to terminate the said treaty
Is hereby adopted and ratified"
After the message and the resolution
had been read, Senator Hepburn, of
idaho, moved that the further consid-
GRAFTON of the matter would be In ex-
ecutive session. He declared that 1t
was proposed to cancel a contract OF
great commercial interest to the United
States, involving a rad Of many mil
lions of dollar and he thought 1t
should be seriously considered and at
length. He finally made formal objec-
ton to immediate consideration.
Knox On Situation.
Secretary Of State Knox declared to-
day that there had been a great deal
of misrepresentation about the attitude
of Russia in the recent negotiations. He
asserted that Russia had not protested
to the United States against the abro-
cation Of the treaty, nor against the
language of the Sulzer resolution. The
secretary said that neither formally,
nor informally, had Russia entered any
sort of complaint.
1t was intimated early this morning
that later in the day correspondence
might be made public which would
clear the air materially.