Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-12-20
House Concurs in Resolution
Abrogating Russian Treaty
ON Mr.. SULZER'S MOTION
Declares He Is Not Looking for
Credit of Authorship.
SAYS RUSSIA MADE NO PROTEST
No Objection Made Directly OF In.
directly to Language of Orig
inal Resolution.

inal Resolution.
Inc mouse today agreed tn the senate
measure to abrog,te the Russian
treaty Of 1882. The action was nv y,x.
voce vote. The only negative vote w.
cast by Representative Macon Of
Arkansas.
Representative William Sulzer of New
YORK. chairman OF the House committee
on foreign affairs. this afternoon made
good his declaration of yesterday that he
had no pride of authorship in connection
with his resolution passed by the House
last wednesday, proposing to abrogate
the Russian treaty OF 1882, and that he
was merely looking for results Mr..
Sulzer called up in the House this after
noon the Senate resolution directed at
the same end, but couched in milder
language than that of the Sulzer resolu-
ton, and urged its immediate approval.
want to say this" Mr.. Sulzer re-
marked in making his motion, Russia
made no protest. directly or indirectly.
against the language of the resolution
introduced by me that was unanimously
reported from the committee on foreign
affairs. of which I am chairman, and that
passed the house by a vote of 800 to l.
For Russia to do that sort OF thing
would have been absolutely contrary to
diplomatic ethics and usage"
Questioned by Mr.. Harrison.
Representative Francis Burton Harrison
OF New York jumped to his feet
L would like to ask. he said. where
the press Of this country obtained the re-
port SO generally printed that the adop-
| ton OF the House resolution would be con-
| sidered as an insult by the Russian gov
ernment'
| Il will say this" Mr.. Sulzer replied.
after an appreciable pause. that the in
formation did not come from the State
Department
| Mr.. Sulzer, In urging that the Senate
resolution be approved. declared that the
question was of such Importance that II
| rose far above all partisan consideration
Il have always considered this PROPOSE
| ton to be on q much higher plane than
that Of mere politics and partisanship'
| he said.
Says Senate Retaliated.
/, Referring to the consideration Of this
matter by Congress-. Mr.. Sulzer said that
| although the President in notifying Rus
| sia last Sunday Of the intention OF this
| government to abrogate the treaty had
ignored the Congress-" that the Senate
had retaliated by ignoring the Presi-
dent in amending the Sulzer resolution
and sending 1t back to the House OF
| Representatives for approval.
| Representative Victor Berger OF Mil
waukee, the lone socialist in the house
tried TO quiz Mr.. Sulzer.
DO you believe" he said. that the
abrogation of this treaty OF 1882 will
protect the rights of American citizens
| travelling in Russia? We have more
to lose than Russia by the abrogation
of this treaty. Why not abrogate the
extradition treaty of 1887. under which
Russia obtaing more benefits than the
| United StatesT'
Berger's Query Unanswered.
| Mr.. Sulzer smiled around the House
and paid no attention to the question.
He went ahead and proceeded to yield
the floor to Representative Harrison Of
New York.
Mr.. Speaker" Representative Berger
cried, much to the amusement of the
House. '.Mr. Sulzer hasn't answered my
question
He doesn't have to answer it IL he
doesn't want to- Speaker Clark replied
amid laughter
Mr.. Berger sat down.
Malby Speaks in Opposition.
| Repres entative George Malby of New
York, the only member of the House
who voted against the Sulzer resolution
Hast Wednesday, made a brief but spir-
tied speech in opposition to the passage
of the Senate resolution.
| lit is easy to break a treaty" said
Mr.. Malby, impressively. but very difh
cult to make one. L am not a prophet
or the son Of - prophet, but predict thai
members of this House will see a good
| many years go by in the event that the
| treaty of 1882 is abrogated in the manner
PROPOSED before the United States and
| Russia resume close and friendly reia-
| tions.
Mr.. Maiby contended that the purpose
Of the abrogation of the treaty could not
| Ce sl..o..iI,.-.-..ea N tine inaiiler I,ro,,osee
| and the action by this government would
| not be of the slightest benefit TO the
class of citizens needing protection.
Mr.. Foster Explains Vote.
Representative Foster Of Vermont. sen
ior republican number OF the House
committee on foreign affairs, took the
floor to explain why he did not vote for
the Sulzer resolution when II was passed
by the House last Wednesday.
| Il will say very frankly" said Mr.. Fos-
ter because of that one phrase Of the
resolution to which exception has been
taken declaring that Russia had yio-
lated the provision of the treaty
/ did you vote for the resolution In the
foreign affairs committeey' Mr.. SulzeT
inquired.
II confess did, Mr.. Foster replied.
| "but ] reserve the right TO change my
mind and vote to amend the resolution.
| Mr.. Foster expressed the opinion that
had il not been for that one objectionable
phrase the House resolution would have
| gone through both branches without
question and would have been accepted
without any i'll feeling at all by the Rus
sian government.
! Mr. Foster added that he did not have
any sympathy with the suggestion that
in passing the resolution proposing 20
| terminate the treaty OF 1882 the Onltee
States ives interfering In any way WIN
fl,e internal AFFAIRS of Russia.
] ReDresentattve Berger OF Wlsconsln
1 told the House he would vote Tor the
resolufion. although he did not think AZ
| vro,,A he efHective In accomplishing the
r,,rnose desired He thought the extra
ksxsrs, treaty OF 1887 was the one that
| s1,oalld be abrogated.
ar Mr.. Sulxer really wants to accom-
en{d Mr. Reruer-. sshr