The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-12-19
TAFT MOVED ON
OWN Initiative
AGAINST RUSSIA
Now Asks Senate to Pass Re4
solution Confirming
His Actions
PRESIDENT CHARGED
WITH PLAYING A
GAME OF POLITICS.
Senate, However, Seems De.1
termined That Action of
House in Russian Affair
Shall Be Recognized .
IN CONGRESS YESTERDAY.


IN CONGRESS YESTERDAY. 4
Senate.
Committee ON foreign Relations
decided report substitute Tor Sui
ger revolution A
Judiciary committee considers
CUMMING bill.
Hearing before Interstate Com.
merce and Lortner investigating
coxnnittees. .
House In session but few min.
utes, ransacting routine business.
Stanley Steel investigating com.
mitta resumed hearing
Representative Humphrey bo-
fore Rules Committee urged pass.
age Of his resolution INVESTIGATING
shipping trust.
Representative Tsubcy intro
duced bill to reduce mileage 81.
lowance by half.
Military Affairs Committee con.
unucd work ON military appropri-
alton bill.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 1s.-rhe an.
nouncemant OF President Taft, In his
upon his own responsibility. that he
bad notified Russia on behalf Of this
government. OF tn intentio- to termi-
nate the operation OF the treaty OF
commerce and navigation Of rs SO, be-
tween the United States and Russia,
on January Z. 1915, and the request
tina he Senate ratify his action. came
like q thunderbOlt out OF a clear sky.
There was no hesitation. on the part
'0f the Democrats to accuse the preat-
dent OF playing politics. by trying to
take matter OF such gravity out OF
the hands OF the Democratic House
and placing 1t in the hands Of the Re.
publican Senate.
bers of the Republican COMMITTEES on
foreign relations OF the House who
instead Of accepting the -presidant.A
Recommendation and ignoring the ac-
ition OF tho House. reported joint
resolution. which Will require the COM
currence. OF the House before the
treaty can be officially abrogated.
Will Pass Senate Today.
Tho objection OF Senator Hepburn
to Immediate consideration OF the
resolution deferred the debate until
tomorrow. when II IL practically cer-
tain that the joint resolution will b
passed by bottle houses.
The refusal Of the Senate TO ignore
the House in the treaty matter. =
taken as q direct slap at the preoa-
| dent. for attempting to make political
cal ital out of u question which tn-
wolves non-partisan American ecntt.
meut.
| The Senate foreign relations COM
mittee reported joint resolution ap-
proving OF the course Of the president.
In reporting q joint resolution, In
stead Of q Senate resolution. the c09o~
mtttee disregarded the presidents d.
sire to settle the matter without -.
ton by he House of Representatives.
and thus ignore the Sulzer resolution
| Senator Culberson. on the floor. -.
cused the president Of taking the
treaty question out Of the hands 81
the Democratic House. and placing +
In those of the Republican Senate.
The majority of the senators agree
that the treaty must be terminated
and Will probably vote for tho Joint
resolution which will be debated 10
morrow.
Representative Sulzer expressed
himself as satisfied with the action
taken by the President and said thal
the matter Is now history.
In the debate tomorrow a numbeu
! Of Democratic senators viii undouhl-
! ed1y make speeches accusing the Pres
ident Of trying to play politics In
the face Of a grave diplomatic sit-
uation: but Indications are that the
Joint resolution win pass.
Following is the Presidents me-
sage to the Senate:
ITO the Senate:
by Instructions which I caused
the Secretary OF State to transmit
to the American Ambassador IT 81
Petersburg. on the 18th day Of d.
cember. 1911, there was given to tn
imperial Russian government nndoI
the date Of December II. 1911, ofElcla1
| notification on behalf Of this row
eminent Of intention to terminate tn
| operation of the treaty Of oommeru(
and navigation OF December Is, lS11
between the United States and Nunh
STA, upon the expiration OF the yea
commencing on the first OF January
1912. The notification contemplate
by Article XII of the existing treA&S
having been embodied In the folloNs
ing note addressed by the ambansadQl
to the Minister OF Foreign Affairs:
Under instructions from my gONs
eminent and in pursuance Of corr
versations held by the Secretary ~
State with the Russian AmbAsoa601
at Washington. have now the hona4
to give to the imperial Russian -!
eminent, ON behalf of the unleo
Seates, the official notification eQN1
templated by Article XII Of the 6oo
OF 1899, whereby the operations of ~
said treaty will terminate In Acoo<1
ance with its terms on January
1sls. Sss
"Your excellency win recall t
= r 4