Omaha daily bee., 1911-08-04
BRYCE ACTS FOR KING GEORGE
Duplicate Copy of French Treaty
Signed in Paris by M. Jusserand.
BOTH CEREMONIES ARE SIMPLE
Notable Companies of Officials and
Diplomats Are Present.
GO TO THE SENATE AT ONCE
President VIII Make Effort to Have
Both Agreements Ratified Before
Close of the Extra Session
of Congress

WASHINGTON, Aug. 3.-President Taft
will send to the senate tomorrow the gem
eral arbitration treaties between the United
States and Great Britain and the United
Staes and France signed by this govern
ment and for Great Britain here today and
signed in Paris for the government OF
France.
The brief messages of transmittal to the
senate were written and signed by the presl-
dent today, and tomorrow 1t will lie with
the United States to ratfy what has been
termed the greatest step toward the sboli-
ton Of warfare that the world has thus far
taken. Already there have been mutterings
from the senate over these treaties Presi-
dent Taft is noncommittal, but was anxious
to put them before that body before the
adjournment of the special session.
The ceremony of signing the treaties took
place in the presidents library in the
White House, only less historic than the
East room Numerous treaties, including
that between Spain and the United States
have been signed In that room and the
messages of presidents and many important
state documents have been written within
It's walls.
Small FOrmaIity Used.
Small formallty was attached to the cere-
mony. Secretary OF State Knox British
Ambassador Bryce, Counsellor Chandler
Anderson of the State department, Osmund
Ovey, second secretary of the British en-
bassy, two members OF the cabinet, a score
OF newspaper men and three photographers
were present The treaty with Great Britain
was signed at $40 o'clock this afternoon.
Secretary Knox and Ambassador Bryce
signed duplicates at the same moment
while the photographers clicked their
cameras In accompaniment to the scratch
ing pens. The French treaty was signed by
Mr.. Knox one minute later.
The treaties out OF the way, President
Taft took his place at the desk. Before him
were laid two messages to the senate. He
affixed his name and then, so far as the
executive end of the government is con-
cerned, the matter was concluded.
The presidents library had been cleared
for the occasion Only a fiat top mahogany
desk was left standing in one corner 1lst
under window that looks out over the
White House grounds and the Potomac
river. On the desk were the treaties, the
messages to the senate and an inkwell with
golden eagle with outstretched wings on
an onyx base, two pens and a vase filled
with golden rod, the national flower of the
ChitCu OldleS.
few minutes after o'clock. Secretarv
Knox took his seat on one side of the
desk and Ambassador Bryce found his
place just opposite. President TAFT. Mr..
Ovey, Secretary of Commerce and Labor
Nagel, Secretary of Agriculture Wilson.
Secretary to the President c. D. Hilles
Major A.. W. Butt the presidents aide.
and Counsellor Anderson stood in a eroun
at one side. Mr.. Knox looked at the
photographers, took up a pen and waited.
"All right" the camera battery said.
Camera shutters Click.
The secretary and ambassador, pens
filled with ink, set to work on the instant.
simultaneously there was a great click
ing Of camera shutters.
Mr.. Bryce left the desk after signing and
Mr. Knox remained alone. The French
treaty was passed to him and as Vicomte
Phalle looked on once again he wrote his
name in a bold hand.
II think you ought to have that pen. Mr.
President" Mr.. Knox said as he finished
NO you had better keep 1t, Mr.. Secre-
tary," the president said.
Mr. Knox carried that pen away and the
one used by Mr.. Bryce was taken bv a
White House attache.
Ten minutes after the ceremony was over
MI Bryce was walking down the capital
streets through the rain and the president
and Secretary Knox were planning to plav
golf together at Chevy Chase. The am
bassador left this evening for his summer
home at Seal Harbor, Me.