Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-03-08
RiddIed by Senate, They
Will Not be Sent to
Powers.
ARBITRATION IS DEAD
Vital Features of PaCts Elin.-
mated and They Are Adopt
ed - Taft Defeated.

Washington, March S.-Summing up
the action OF the senate yesterday in
stripping the proposed arbitration
treaties with France and Great Britain
Of their vital features. government Of
fcials agreed today that participation
by the United States in the general
arbitration OF international difficulties
was a dead issue 80 far as this session
of congress is concerned, and proba-
bly, for many years 10 come. II is not
thought the president will submit the
treaties in their mangled form to
either powers for possible approval
Washington, March S.-Arbitra-
tion was knocked into a cooked hat |
by the senate last evening. After |
amending the conventions between |
the United States and Great Britain |
and France respectively so as to
leave practically nothing justiciable |
except the proper shade for waist
coats to be worn at court functions,
the congressional branch of the
troaty-making power perfunctorily
voted ratification, &c to 3.
Senator Dixon, manager of the
Roosevelt presidential campaign.
took an unexpected position that af-
fected the entire question at issue.
AMENDMENT NEEDLESS.
By vote OF A. to 40-the change
of one vote would have reversed the
Iesult-the vital clause of article 3
of the treaties was eliminated. This
made needless the so-called Lodge
amendment, which in reality was
drawn by Secretary of State KnoI
and favored by President Taft.
The KnoX-Lodge amendment was
designed 70 satisfy senators who
were fearful of the surrender of the
power vested in the senate in case
clause 3 of article was adopted 1t
would have been acceptable to the
foreign governments signatory to the
two treaties, but with the clause in
question out the previous negot!a-
tiCns are practically nullifed.
ALIENS NOT AFFECTED.
This view OF nuliiication is the
administration view, but had the
omasculation of the treaties stopped
right there matters might not have
been beyond remedy in the opinion
of members OF the foreign relations
committee who originally made the
majority report knocking out clause
3 The democrats Immediately got
busy, however. and. with the help Of
few republicans, notably Senator
Lorimer OF Illinois, attached amend
ments providing that arbitration
shall not apply to questions affecting
the admission of aliens TO the United
States. the admission OF aliens to
schools in the several states, the ter
ritorial integrity Of the states or the
United States, the alleged indebted
ness OF money obligation Of any state
or any question involving the Monroe
doctrine or other purely govern
mental policy.
NO LIMIT ON POWER
Some of these questions. especial
ly those pertaining to the traditional
policy known as the Monroe doctrine
would not be affected by the treaties
as originally presented. in the opin.
ion of experts on international af-
fairs, but to incorporate such a spe-
clhc list OF exemptions is another
proposition. II was contended When
sian treaty OF commerce and naviga.
ton was under consideration several
weeks ago that we could never con.
sent TO limit our power 10 decide
whom we would admit TO this coun
try. Without doing that, however
great step in the movement fol
universal peace was embraced In the
treaties with two OF the great pow
ers OF the world.
MAY CAST THEM ASIDE
The dream OF the centuries tC
which President Taft gave a touch o
reality has been disturbed. II &C
cepted by Great Britain and Franc,
as ratified last night, IL is doubtful
whether the treaties would accom-
plish as much as the treaty OF 1905
with Great Britain. President Taf
low may present the treaties 4
France and Great Britain in thei
amended form-only TO have then
rejected-or he may lock them in hi
desk and forget all about them. HI
probably will adopt the latter course
ENGLAND NOT SURPRISED.
London, March S.-The evening
newspapers do not express surprise a
the action OF the UPited States senate
IN amending the arbitration treaties
SO as to remove from their operation
the Monroe doctrine. immigration ant
state debts The Pail Nall Gazett'
SAYS such treaties are only possibl
between nations which never are like