New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-08-13

the Foreign Relations committee. IL
was addressed 10 the committee and re-
ouested that IL the treaties were to be
smended that action should be post
roned until December. Before leaving
Washington President Taft had made
strong representations 10 individual
members of the committee urging as
vitality important the retention of the
nrovision giving to the joint high COM
mission tho right TO determine disputed
questions without reference to the Sen
etc.
Roth President Taft ana Secretary OF
state Knox have taken the position tha'
the paragraph which the Committee on
Foreign Relations purposes to amend Is
necessary TO the proper operation OF the
agreement The President gave Sena-
tors 10 understand that me would not
Weld without severe struggle. and ms
friends express doubt whether he would
not prefer the failure Of the treaties
rather than ratification with the para
eraph eliminated. The suggestion has
been made that the President may even
* so f7r as to withdraw the treaties,
hat some Of his closet friends are
authority Tor the statement that instead
he viii undertake 10 defeat the suggest
Cd amendment
There is mystery about the matter IN
which the views Of Ambassador Bryce,
IS expressed in his book were brought
into the present controversy. Each
member Of the Foreign Relations Com
nnittee received in to-day's mail neatly
printed two-page pamphlet quoting an
extract from "The American Common
wealth." in which the opinion was eX-
pressed that minority in the Senate
may control the action Of that body ad-
verscly To the will Of the majority in "a
narrow, sectional electioneering spirit
IT. this connection was reference to the
fact that under the Constitution a two
thirds majority of the Senate is neces-
sary 10 the ratification of treaties with
foreign powers.
Both in committee and in the Senate
the characterization OF the Senate in
Mr EryoeS work was referred 10 as in
dicatinc a hostile disposition by the am
hasssdor toward the Senate's exercise
o. its functions Of ratification. The
opinion was expressed 10y several that
ur. Bryccs views had had an undue
influence in the formulation Of the
treaty. II became evident during the
discussion that this criticism of the Sen
ate. notwithstanding that il was writer
without ann possible reference to the
present contingency, would be USED
against favorable action on the treaty
10y the senate. Some of the opponents
cf the treaty jig the form in which il
was presented vent so far As 10 sugges
that the circular has been distributed
among Senators by friends of the treat
ies with a view 10 sustaining the Presi
dents own position.
o'Gornan Refers to Bryce.
The question of the British Ambassa
doris former attitude was referred TO a
some length in the Senate by Mr.. O'Gor
man. the new Senator from sew York
who pointed out the possible danger tina
might arise through a complete yielding
10 the views Of an Old World diplomat
Mr.. OGorman did not. however. indt
cate positive opposition to the treaties
In addition to referring 10 Mr.. Bryce
views. he said that some portions Of th'
documents before the Senate APPARENT.
were conflicting while others were oh
scure 20 him He expressed the opinion
that the Senate should study them will
great care. and said that more ligh
should be thrown on them before askin:
:. the Senate 10 vote.
. To meet the desire for more informs
.iion. Senator Bourne entered 2 motion
which the Senate adopted. directing th'
Committee on Foreign Relations to pre-
pare 2 written report giving the fulles
possible information.
Both i'm committee and I'm tho SENATE
fear was expressed that the ratification
% the treaties would have the effect o
throwing orsn the doors OF arbitration
20 all the questions involved in dealin.
with such Oriental nations az China anC
Japan and involving immigration an,
Pcrsh and other Western Senator
pointed ou' 70 the Foreign Relation,
COMMITTEE this danger. on this account
- well as for other reasons. Mr.. Roral
moved the cancellation 81 the psrsgrap ri
comforting extra privileges on ne Join
high commission.
The Idaho Senator contended that s,
long as the Senate was deprived o.
power 10 pass on questions the commits
sion could determine even these prob
lens and argued that il would not b,
wise 70 leave such matters TO the de
civfor ~ a board which probably woulc
te dominated by old World views. u.
pointed out that the provisions In tn,
Root treaties of 1908 excluding from
srbitrs ton All questions involving The
national honor and vital interests,
had been superseded in the pending con
ventions by a provision including with
In the terms OF the treaties ALI differ.
ences which are justiciable I'm their nat.
IRE b. reason 81 being susceptible Of dc.
oision by the application Of law OF
equity" This change. he said. was wide
enough 20 bring almost any question
within the range Of settlement
Mr.. Borsh expressed himself as salts
fed that the elimination OF this proyi
sion would relieve the treaties OF objec
ton. but in the Senate the objection wa
revived by Senator Poindexter. OF Wash
ington, who said that he feared that ever