New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-08-19
THE NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.

ate would require the creauon OF sobi'
special tribunal to deal with it. In notaple
contrast with the little faith of the SEN
ate has been the course OF Norway ana
Sweden, which countries, as consequence
OF their divorce after many years or uniteu
existence, provided ny treaty That wheh
any question which both countries coul"
not agree upon az at least arbitTapie
should arise they should bind themselves
to refer the arbitrability OF such question
TO the Permanent Court of Arbitration ~
The Hague. The treaty provides that III
case OF disagreement as TO whether 'he
difference that may have arisen Involves
the vital interests Of one or the other vi
the states, and therefore must be inciuoeu
among those which under the foregoing
article are excepted from compulsory ar
bitration. the said disagreement snail DC
referred to the above named Court OF Aroi-
tratlon," namely 10 The Hague. SO pro-
gressivc an agreement the Senate II hot
even asked to approve. for IL would, under
the pending treaties. retain complete power
TO decide that any question was not JUSTICE
able within the provision OF Article l.
THE MONROE DOCTRINE.-The sug-
gestion that the Monroe Doctrine may De
made the subject Of arbitration under the
pending treaties is wholly untenaoie. III
the first place, that doctrine. as has been
repeatedly asserted. Is a matter OF pohcS
and not OF Flaw or equity" 1t IL n de-
fensive policy. and could not be regarded
n coming within the provisions or Article
of the treaties. In the second place. IL Is
not believable that three Americans whose
fitness had been certified by the Senate
could be induced to declare such a poicy
justiciable within the terms Of the treaty.
Finally, even were It assumed, for SAKE OF
argument, that the American nationals
named and certified as members OF such
Joint high commission were to declare that
policy justiciable the Senate would still
retain the privilege OF rejecting such hnd-
ing when the special agreement under
which the proposed arbitration must be
conducted was submitted to It. And the
suggestion that foreign powers could vio-
late that doctrine and then appeal to the
pending treaties to determine whether or
not such doctrine was justiciable Is equally
untenable. for the reason that. the Monroe
Doctrine having from time immemoriai
been declared to be a policy or self-defence
OH the part of this country. any violation
thereof would properly be promptly re-
sented, without regard TO tho terms OF such
treaty.
COOLIE LABOR.-It is asserted by enc
mics OF the administration that opposition
to the pending treaties is TO be aroused In
the Far West by the declaration that they
would permit arbitration of the admissi-
biity OF Oriental coolle labor This con-
tention is equally untenable. first. because
IL presupposes that three Americans.
named by the President and confirmed by
the Senate. would agree that such ques-
ton was arbitrable. and. second. because
II Is a well established principle OF inter
national law that all questions regarding
the admission OF aliens arc 20 DO deter
mined solely by the nation from which ad-
mission Is demanded. And finally. no such
question could be submitted TO arbitration
unless the Senate, equally with tho pro-
posed commission. decided that IT was ar
bitrable and consented TO approve tho spe-
clal agreement which. In defining the
scope of arbitration. included such ques-
ton. That this argument may be used 10
impose on those possessed OF insufficient
intelligence to grasp the scope and pur-
port OF the pending conventions is adj
mitted. but that II will go far with inteli-
gent people is emphetically denied.
SOUTHERN BONDS-Certain Demo
cratic Senators profess to be deeply con-
cerned regarding the possibility that the
responsibility Of certain Southern states
for the bonds issued by them in the days
Of the Confederacy might be. under the
pending treaties. submitted to arbitration.
A mere reading OF the terms OF the trea-
ties must dispel all such apprehension. for
they provide explicitly that the agreement
to arbitrate shall apply solely 10 dis
agreements which may hereafter arise "
All question OF the validity OF the South
ern bonds and the responsibility OF the
Southern states therefor arose long ago
and IL, therefore. explicitly precluded by
the language OF the treaties. There is ar.
avowed intention on the part of the OPP
ponents OF the administration to arouse
sectional prejudice against Mr.. Taft. based
on the terms OF these treaties The Presi
dent welcomes the attempt. He ~ con-
WINGED that they present an important and
tangible means Of promoting tho cause Of
universal peace; that they I'm no way vlo-
late the constitutional powers OF the SEN
ate and that they cannot be so construed
as to menace any important interest Of
this country. He has confidence. there
fore. that ultimately his policy will COM
rnand the respect and support not only OF
the Senate, but OF the great majority of
the American people G.. G.. III.