New-York tribune., 1912-01-12
TREATIES PARTY ISSUE.
Lodge Resolution Arouses 0ppo-
sition of Democratic Senators.
MAKES RESULT DOUBTFUL
Supporters of Arbitration Pacts,
However, Still Expect Sufficient
Votes for Ratification.
From The Tribune Bureau J

| From The Tribune Bureau
Washington. Jan. ll.-Opposition 20 inc
treaties OF arbitration with Great Britain
and France took a new turn in the senate
to-day by the introduction Of the Looge
resolution OF ratification. which removes
| from the domain OF contention the aues-
tion whether or not the Senate was 10 I'M
| pair its constitutional powers and makes
clear that the approval OF them calls TOT
no such sacrifice.
| The resolution to he offered by Senator
Lodge as a substitute for the Root resolu-
! tion, which was intended to achieve the
same purpose in different way. was IN
| troduced in executive session. The I'M
mediate result was TO create confusion IN
| the Democratic ranks and to make the
! treaties, in a general way. at least party
issue. The Democrats who had counted on
blocking the approval OF them as an ad-
ministration measure seemed TO think mat
their strongest prop had been taken from
under them and appeared to be at loss
to find another objection 10 fall back upon
| The opposition was not clearly enough
defined 10 give = basis for the prediction
that tho necessary two-thirds majority
| will not be obtained. II is expected that
with tho adoption OF the Lodge resolution,
| removing all doubt as 10 the Interpretation
Of the treaties a sufficient number OF
| Democratic votes will he obtained, despite
. the inclination to make the question
party issue, 30 bring about their ratitica-
iion.
The Lodge resolution scts forth tho fol
lowing proyiso:
The Senate advises and consents to the
a ifts1 ion ~ 10 yrif %
| standing, 10 he made a part of such rati-
| fcstion. that any Joint High Commission
Of inquiry to which shall be referred the
! ques ion as 10 whether or not a difference
! is subject 10 arbitration under Article ] OF
! the treaty. provided 10y Article III
| thereof, tho American members ot such
! commission shall bc appointed by the
! President. subject To- the advice and con-
| sent 81 the senate. and with the further
| understanding that the reserl alton IN
| Article ! Of ;he treaty. that the special
| agreement i'm each case shall be made by
! the President by and with the advice and
! consent Of the Senate means the concur
| rene" Of the Senate in IN" full exercise of
its constitutional powers in respect 10 every
| special agreement. whether submitted 10
! the Senate a. the result of the report OF a
Joint High Commission OF inquiry under
! Article III or otherwise.
The resolution places on the treaties the
same Interpretation with respect to the
/ powers OF the Senate ss Secretary Knox
las placed on them. This Interpretation,
,it IS understood has also been agreed 10
by IN" French and British ambassadors as
! being the sense Of the treaties themselves.
although the question Of Senate approval
10 each special agreement under the treaties
j. a domestic matter. and as su"n is not a
subject ~ diplomatic discussion.
Democrats Change Front.
Before the Lodge resolution was sus-
ceated scvon or eight Democratic Senator'S
had indicated Willingness to support the
treaties. som" without amendment and
.otr'r- with amendments which would re
-rry" from arbitration III questions iuYolv-
inC strictly American subjects. These Demo
crats however. to-day took the position
that the Lodge resolution conficted with
the treaties themselves. Consequently these
Senators object 10 Il a. a practical nulih-
cation " tho treaties vital parts. At least
three fourthq OF the Republican Senators
arc said % regard Il as a happy solution OF
tho question
Tho last clause o. Article III Of th'
treaties prov.dr- for Gual determination of
, tho juqticiabiIits OF question: 10y the join.
high commission. tn" Democratic Soma
tors who d"-tr" the treaties amended con
tended TO-DAY that d Ccurs" preferable 70
| tho Lodge resolution would be 10 omit t'n
last clause or Article III, as was originally
sugucqted nv the majority Of tho Foreign
Relations Committee Their argument was
that the eN"ct OF accepting the amendment
would b, to restore all IN" Senate prcroga
tlvos ol ratification and confirmation.
The Republican senators are not strong
enough to ratfy the treaties w!thou: con
siderable Democratic assistance, and some
concern was expressed as to tn" attitude OF
Democratic Senator'S who heretofore have
he.n cIassed as friendly 10 the treaties.
Senators Rayncr and Williams favor them
without any notifications. Senator Rayner
! to-day announced his intention Of again
! addressing the Senate on the treaties some
day next week
IT is a mistake" said Secretary Knox
to-day. "to alleSe that the resolution OF
ratification Of the peace treaties proposed
bv Senator Lodge involves a surrender by
the administration or the Senat" Of any
postion It holds in respect TO the treaties.
The Senate digestion TO the third article
of the treaties. AZ expressed by the ma
Ioritv report of the Committee on Foreign
Relations. was that il could he construed
! to take away the senate power 10 ap-
prove or disapprove a special agreement for
arbitration after the commission had re
ported the difference arbitrsblc under the
first article The administration position
was that II could not be so construed,
| TINT If the commission reports the differ
cncc Is arbitrablc an agreement is ma 70 to
| arbitratc IL. and the agreement is sent to
the senate for approval. just as il no such
question had been raised, and the Senate
deals with # with unlmpaired powers. The
Lodge resolution merely recites that with
that understanding the treaties should be
| ratified"