The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1911-08-04
Arbitration Pacts Between the Unit.
ed States and Great Britain
and Also With
France.
TO THE SENATE TODAY
Ceremony Took Place In White House
and Incident Was Occasion
Which Marks Great
Step.

WASHINGTON, Aug. 4.-President
Taft will send to the senate today the
general arbitration treaties between
the United States and Great Britain and
the United States and France, signed
for this government and for Great
Britain in Washington. and signed in
Paris for the government Of France.
The brief messages OF transmittal to
the senate were written and signed by
the president and today 1t will lie with
the United States to ratify what has
been termed the greatest step toward
the abolition OF warfare the world has
taken.
There have been mrtterirgs 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 treat
les took place in the presidents libra
ry in the white house, only less his
toric than the east room. Numerous
treaties, including that between Spain
and the United States, have been sign.
ed In that room and the messages of
presidents and many important state
documents were written within its
walls.
Small formality attached to the cere-
mony. Secretary of State Knox, Brit
ish Ambassador Bryce, Counsellor
Chandler Anderson of the<s State De-
partment; Osmund Ovey, second sec
retary of the British embassy; the
Vicomte Saint Phalle Of the French
embassy, two members of the cabinet,
a score of newspaper men and three
photographers were present
The treaty with Great Britain was
signed at $40 Secretary Knox and
Ambassador Bryce signed duplicates
at the same moment, while the photo.
! graphers clicked their cameras in ac.
compartment to the scratching OF
/ pens. The French treaty was signed
| by Mr.. Knox one minute later.
The treaties out of the way, Presi.
dent Taft took his place at the desk.
Before him were laid two messages to
the senate. He affixed his name and
IhOl, oO ldi dO lliC CACSutlNC SaQ VI
the government is concerned, the
matter was concluded
i The presidents library had been
cleared for the occasion. Only flat
! top mahogany desk was left standing
in one corner just under window
that looks out on the white house
grounds and the Potomac river
On the desk were the treaties; the
messages to the senate, an inkwell
with goldn eagle, with outstretched
wings on an onyx base three pens and
, vase filled with golden-rod the ma.
, tional flower of the United States.
/ A few minutes after o'clock Secre-
, tary 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, G.
t D. Hilles, Maj. A. w. Butt, and Coun
). sellor Anderson stood in group al
i one side. Mr. Knox looked at the
1 photographers and took UP pen an1
/ waited: "All right the camera bat
4 terry said.
The secretary and ambassador
y pens filled with ink, set to work OF
s the instant. simultaneously there wal
y a great clicking of camera shutters.
t Mr.. Bryce left the desk after signing
It and Mr. Knox remained alone. Tn
T. French treaty was passed to him, an,
l. as vicomte PhaIle looked on he one
Q again wrote his name in bold hand
Il think you ought to have that per
Mr.. President Mr.. Knox said, as h
finished.
"No, you had better keep it, MI
Z Secretary" the president said.
Mr. Knox carried the pen away, an
n the one used by Mr.. Bryce was take
by white house attache.
Ten minutes after the ceremony wa
over Mr.. Bryce was walking down ID
capital streets through the rain, an
"a the president and Secretary Kno
were planning to play golf together ;
le Chevy Chase. The ambassador left *
n his summer home at Seal Harbor, M
oS Ka,rnax VIII Racoxxar