The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1911-12-19
John Sharp Williams Says Old
Claims Are Not Affected by
Treaties
STATEMENT BY SENATOR
AFTER CAREFUL STUDY

Objection That Has Been Offered
TO the Pending Arbitration Treaty.
Especial to News and Observer.)
Washington. Dec. 16.-"I do not be-
iieve that the United States could or
would submit to arbitration the cues
ton Of State debts"
This positive statement was made
by Senator John Sharp Williams, of
Mississippi, when discussing the pend
ing arbitration treaties with France
and Great Britain. It was not an Off
hand declaration, but made after a
careful study Of the documents Sena-
tor Williams when a m Of the
House of Representatives, served a
long time on the Foreign Affairs Com
mittee, and has always given due at
tention to international affairs. Asked
for a more definite statement on the
subject of the arbitration treaties as
they relate to the old State claims,
Senator Williams said:
4 do not believe the United States
could submit a State debt to arbitra-
ton, because it is not a national Ques-
ton and therefore could not become
an international one. The arbitration
TREATIES DIS 1OpOSCu IC4SA III III VI 81
place to questions hereafter arising.
That, it seems to me, would put a
quietus on the question. Secondly, it
refers to international matters, and
then in the third place, it says that If
either country shall suggest that q
proposed question is not jusiciab1e.
it shall be referred to the Joint High
Commission Of Inquiry three Of
whom would be Americans, and that
unless that commission decides I'M
animously, or unless all but one Of
them decide hat a question is JuSticl-
able, that it will not be SO under the
treaty. If you will notice the Ian
guage in Article 1, which is as may
be decided by special agreement you
will see that it refers back, and by
referring back, you will find that in
each case the special agreement will
define the scope OF the power Of the
arbitrators and will define the Ques-
ton or questions at issue [ cannot
conceive hat the United States Senate
in defining the scope Of the poWer OF
the arbitrators, or in defining the
question or questions at issue would
define a question Of state debt to be
within their scope or at issue
This is especially Of Importance, be-
cause in the mex to the last clause OF
Article /, it is recited hat the spe-
cial agreement in each case snail pc
made upon the part OF the Cn1ted
State, by and with the advice and
consent of the Senate l can't con
ceive that two-thirds Of the United
States Senate while defining the
scope of the power OF the arb1tratorS
or the question or questions at issue,
would ever submit the Monroe DOC
trine or any phase Of it, or Would
ever submit the question Of pam
or Chinese immigration, or Wouio
ever Suhmjt the question OF SldlS
debts.
"Remember that the Joint High
Commission has no owe to do any
thing except upon h request @,
either party to make an 1mpartla.
and conscientious Investigation ana
report concerning any controversy pc
tween the parties, and even then the
language is that only If all, or all put
one of the Commission agree and re
port that such difference is within the
scope Of Article /, it shall be referred
to arbitration in accordance with the
provisions of this treaty BY reieT-
ring back to the language in Artlcie
/, you will find what the words IN
accordance with the provisions OF TINS
treaty mean, to-wit: that IL is 10 pe
arbitrated either by the permanent
court at the Hague or by some otheI
tribunal as may be decided upon ~
each case, by special agreement.
which special agreement you VIII
remember, in the language OF ths
treaty shall be made on the part OF
the United States, by h Preslden.
OF the United States, by and VIII
the advice and consent Of the Senate.
Now, the Senate while giving its con
sent defines the scope, ETC., as nave
stated.
In my opinion, the Or Hlen
Commission is the most valuabl part
OF the treaty proposed; not pecauss
Of what it can do, but a OK
what it can delay. 1t gives Tune
cooling time because the first clause
in Article 2 provides that a reIer-
ence to the commission, even WneL.
requested by one of the parties. may