The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1911-08-23
THE ARBITRATION TREATY.

The adjournment of the extra ses
sion of Congress leaves the unreserved
arbitration treaty in fair shape. A
halt was called upon the destructive
and snap report of the Senate Commit,
tee on Foreign Affairs, and time is al
lowed for full consideration of the
treaty, and of the meaning Of the
| report made by the committee. 1t is
universally held that the report of the
committee would destroy, not only the
symmetry Of the treaty, but would prac-
tically render it null and void 1t
would require that every subject that
| arises for arbitration should first be
referred to the Senate, and the Sen
ate's consent to such arbitration be
had. But, this can be done now with
out the arbitration treaty, So, since
| nothing whatever is to be gained by
this treaty, if this amendment is at
tached to 1t, the friends of the treaty
naturally resent the action of the Sen
ate committee.
And, indeed, their action is of the
rabidest possible character. It looks
only to the high prerogatives of the
Senate, and to the preservation of the
application of the greatest capacity
of the finicky members in that body
for meddling and procrastination. It is
evident that. with the adoption by the
Senate of this amendment of the For
elgn Affairs committee, the treaty
might just as well not have been nego~
tiated at all
This is pointed out by the three mi.
norty members of the committee, Sen.
ators Cullom, Root, and Burton. They
show that as the treaty stands, there
Is no infringement upon the constitu-
tional prerogatives, power, and author
ity of the Senate but it is evident that
they recognize the sentiment voiced by
the committee as a very powerful one.
They consider, Judging by their mi
nority report, that the sentiment voiced
by the committee is one that must be
reckoned with. And so they feel them
selves impelled to propose certain
changes that will, in a way, meet the
views of those who hold with the COM
.mittee, and at the same time preserve
some life in the treaty.
1t Is an unfortunate tangle for a
measure Of such tremendous importance
to be involved in. The Senators who
oppose unreserved arbitration have been
very adroit In striking the note of
alarm in the Senatorial ear, that the
Senate's privileges are in some way at.
tackled, and must be defended This
Senatorial sentiment is so very keen,
so very alert, so very touchy, that
1t would appear that the Senators would
rather have the treaty nullified than
to lose one jot or title of high Sen
atorial dignity and l-embracing power
1t is feeling that has been very evil
dent In the Senate for many years,
and one that the Senators appear in,
disposed to waive for any considera-
tion whatever. Doubtless neither Pres
ident Taft nor Secretary Knox had any
idea that the Senators toes were be.
ing stepped upon in this treaty. but
the touchy Senators can easily and al
ways be depended upon to stick a toe
in the way Of being troddeu upon, and
then grooming thereat. And that did
not fail in this case.
The amendment suggested by the mi
norlty of the committee evidently looks
to the preservation of the Monroe doc
trlne, which it was suggested might be
nullifled on a test case in The Hague
arbitration tribunal. But, on the other
hand, since the Monroe doctrine was
distinctly a suggestion and a plan of
Mr., Canning. British Premier, and was
adopted at his suggestion by President
Monroe, we will be sure of having a
friend at court in Great Britain in de-
fense of that doctrine; and since it has
been firmly asserted doctrine for
some eighty years, not, in fact. resisted
by any nation, and acauiesced in by
most it would seem as though, if this
doctrine were submitted to arbitration,
it would be more likely to be confirmed
than invalidated, and if confirmed. the
advantage would be so very great to
tins country, while the risk of losing
is so small, that it would seem as
though we might afford to take that
risk. 1t is not in the least likely that
any case involving the Monroe doctrine
would come on for arbitration; but if
II did, the advantages to the United
States Of having the doctrine firmly
established by arbitration and definite
international agreement, arc so great,
and seemingly so probable Of attain
ment, that we should welcome such n
test rather than oppose it. The inher-
ent justice of the doctrine. itself also
should speak powerfully in It's favor.
But. a good deal must be gained in
postponement until the regular session
of Congress for any action upon this
treaty. This is what President Taft
telegraphed TO the Senate that be
wished TO have done This telegram
was sent when the report Of the Foreign
Affairs committee was announced In