Arizona republican., 1911-08-13
Senate Remembers What
He Once Wrote
Il -- /
TO PROVE II WAS TRUE
Body Is Preparing to Amend
and Delay Consideration
of Arbitration Treaties
Between This Country,
Great Britain and France

Washington, Aug. 12.-Disregarding
a telegraphed request from president
Taft for a contrary course, the senate
committee on foreign relations today
agreed upon an amendment to the Brit
ish and French arbitration treaties
eliminating the provision comforting
special powers on the proposed joint
high commission. In this form the
treaties were reported to the senate
and the presidents wishes that action
be postponed until December were set
at naught.
The senate gave two hours considera-
tion to the treaties during which the
danger of old world dominance in any
Joint high commission was discussed
Incidently there was much talk about
the criticism upon the senate contain
ed THE American Commonwealth"
written by Ambassador Bryce long be-
fore he ever thought of coming to this
country on a diplomatic mission.
In that work Mr. Bryce attacked the
senate on the ground that it kept up
diplomatic troubles as long as there
was any political advantage to be
gained by so doing Whether the op-
position to ratifying the treaties un-
amended could in any way be traced TO
these utterances by one of the princi-
pal signers of the convention between
this country and Great Britain was noe
manifested.
In any event no conclusions were
reached by the senate and the general
opinion among senators seemed to be
that the treaties would receive very lit
tie. if any further consideration at thin
session of congress.
A telegram from President Taft from
Beverly and received by Chairman Gull
lom. prior to the session of the foreign
relations committee. 1t was addressed
to the committee and requested that If
treaties were to be amended that ac-
ton would be postponed until Decem
ber.
Before leaving washington President
Il
individual members of the committee
urging as vitally important the reten-
ton of the provision giving the joint
high commission the right to deter
mine disputed questions without re-
ference to the senate.
Both Mr.. Taft and Secretary Knox
have taken the position that the para
graph which the committe on foreign
relations purposes to amend is neces-
sary to the proper operation of the
agreement The president gave the
senators to understand that ne would
not yield without a struggle and the
friends express doubt whether he
would not prefer the failure Of the trea-
ties rather than the ratification with
that paragraph eliminated.
Each member of the foreign relations
received in today's mail a
neatly printed two page pamphlet
quoting the extract from THE Ameri-
can Commonwealth" in which the opin-
ion was expressed that minority of
the senate usually CONTROLS the action
of that body adversely TO the will of
the majority in a narrow, sectional, |
electioneering spirit
In this connection there is reference
to the fact that under the constitution
a twothirds majority of the senate is
necessary to the ratification treaties |
with foreign powers. Both In the COM |
mittee and the senate. the character
ization of Bryce's work was referred to |
as indicating hostile disposition on
the part of the ambassador toward the |
senate's exercise of it's functions in
In both the committe and the senate
the fear was expressed that the ratifi- |
cation OF the treaties would have the |
effect of throwing open the door for
the arbitration of all questions invol- |
we'd in dsaling with such oriental ma
tions as China and Japan and involv |
ing immigration and admission to the |
public schools
Senator Borah and other western
senators pointed out to the foreign re-
Iations committee this danger On
this account as well as for other reas- |
ons Mr. Borah moved the cancellation |
of the paragraph comforting extra
privileges ON the Joint high commits
sion.
The Idaho senator contended that so
long as the senate is deprived OF
power to pass upon questions the
commission could determine even
these problems and he urged that it