New-York tribune., 1911-02-24
TREATY WITH Japan
NOT YET RATIFIED
Western Senators Want to Sound
Pacific Coast Sentiment
Before Vote.
HALE's OPPOSITION STOPPED
State Department Again Points
Out How the Convention
Will Benefit This
Country.
frrom The Tribune Bureau !

llfom Inc iIlpun' buirdh
Washington. Feb. 23--The new treaty
Of trade and commerce with Japan again
failed Of ratification by the Senate to-
day, although more than an hour was
devoted to it's consideration in executive
session. There appeared to he no con-
certed movement to prevent its approval
but the same delay which, since the in
PRODUCTION Of the reciprocity agreement
IN Congress. has been noticeable In the
conduct of the business Of the Senate
prevented vote, and il become eVihenf
that this. as well as other measures
would be held back for some time, al
least, before final action is taken.
The Pacific Coast Senators, with the
exception Of those from California. de-
| sired more time before voting on the
treaty, in order TO sound the sentiment ot
their states. Senators Lodge and Bacon
Of the Committee on Foreign Relations'
who are the exponents 0f the agreement
were piled with questions from all quar-
ters. however, until so late an hour that
! il became apparent that much further
| consideration would be necessary before
ratification.
Senator Hepburn contributed his quota
| TO the debate with a wholesale denuncla-
| ton of the administration and It's SIN
! lister designs on American agriculturists,
and finally, with a characteristic display
Of indignation and impatience, Mr.. Lodge
| declared that It was fruitless TO continue
the debate and that an adjournment
might as well he taken.
! Secretary Knox, who came 10 the Cap
itol early i'm the day 10 explain how
groundless were Mr.. Hale's fears Of a
reciprocity agreement with Japan, In
view Of the fact that so per cent OF the
/ imports from Japan are now on the free
/ list, taunted Senators with their inability
10 observe the secrets Of executive ses-
sions. and thereby did such violence TO
1 their sensibilities. that he was, in large
measure. contributory to the debate IN
/ executive session which resulted in n
! postponement of the ratification for
which he is so anxious. The Secretary
and those Senators friendly TO the treaty
are deeply exercised for fear this delay
will permit the opponents OF the measure
I on the Pacific Coast Z irouse an an
/ taeonism which will have an influence on
| their representatives in the Senate, and
NAV delay ratification until the special
session, or until next winter IL no special
/ session is called
Secretary Knox had a long conference
with Senator Hale. and it is said, sue
ceeded I'm convincing the Maine Senator
| that his objections 10 the treaty on the
tariff side were not we'll founded.
Administration View Stated.
The opposition to the japanese treaty
which developed in the Senate yesterday,
I and which was based upon misappre-
bensiou of the purpose Of the tariff
clause therein, has led TO an explanation
Of the purpose of the administration In
negotiating a new treaty at TINS tune.
Japan's treaties with the other great
powers expire by limitation next July.
I Following their expiration II Is the pur-
/ pose of Japan TO advance her tariff rates
and presumal y, to make provision for
co rventional tari. with other countries.
The administration has no reason 10 be-
leve that Japan will care TO make spc-
cial tariff agreement with this country,
! for the reason that nearly 50 pr cent ot
our imports from Japan are already on
the free list. In any event, any such
! special agreement would necessarily be
! in the interest of this country rather
than Of Japan. Under the tern Of the
new treaty as under those of that now
! i'm force. the United States enjoys
merely the favored nation treatment,
! but this clause might easily fail to -
cure for this country as favorable condi-
tions as those which may be granted to
other nations under a special arrange
ment. This would be the case in the
| event Of an agreement materially lover
ing japanese duties on considera BILE
number Of commodities other than those
which the United states is in p position
| to export
In the opinion of the administration,
1 that provision in the new treaty 30 which
objection has been made amounts to q
! notification 80 Japan that the United
States NAV not always he satisfied with
the merely technical favored nation
treatment and may demand proper con-
! cessions. In a measure proportionate 20
those granted 10 otl-er nations. on ex-
| ports from the United States 10 Japan,
| even though that nation has not reduced
her tariff on such commodities 'hen
! ad Of tric
1t is declared that it must be obvious
| that the precautions which the Secre-
/ tary Of state regards IT essential to take
| In order TO pave the way FOR such
! favored nation treatment as shall be
really effective have nothing whatever TO
do with such reciprocal arrangements as
! those which have been effected between
| the United States and Canada.
1t was again declared on behalf of the
state Department to-day that 1t is the
| United states that benefits by the treaty.
From this point Of view this was said.
ANY reason for a special agreement
/ of any kind would naturally be on the
side Of the United states, and that rea-
son would be in order to insure an op-
portunity to the United states Of OBJ
tanning as favorable rates in practice as
might he granted to any other country,
because even with the most favored ma
tion' clause a difference must he recog-
nizod between tariff rates which are
the same as those with other countries
and those which are actually equiva-
| lent"
nChMIMG IAphM'S ELCCV