The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-03-05
Every Obstacle to Their AdOp-
ton Has Been Removed.
THEY HAVE been AMENDED
So as to Meet Objections of the
Upper House.
And Changes Have Been Ap-
proved by the President.
A Milestone in the Taft Ad-
miniStratiOn.

Washington, March 5.-American ar
bitration treaties with Great Britain
F1d France pending in the senate since
last August will be ratified and dis
posed of finally before the close of the
Legislative day. beginning at noon to-
day. Thus President Taft will realize
his ambition.
T advocates of the treaties. in con-
slant consultation with the administra-
ton officials, have been marsha1ling
forces for months, and early today they
expressed complete confidence in the
ratification of the treaties unamended
with an amended resolution of ratif1-
cation interpreting their scope so as TO
safeguard the senate's traditional
treaty making powers. Under unanl-
nous consent reached some time ago
consideration of the treaties was to fol-
low the routine opening proceedings
fol disposition. First came the foreign
relation committees amendment to
strike out of the treaties the third
clause of article three on which most
of the attack has been directed. This
clause would provide that where treaty
signatories disagree as to whether
difference is subject to arbitration by
The Hague or other arbitral tribunals,
the question of arbitrability shall be
determined by the proposed joint high
commission Of inquiry.
The Lodge Resolution.
The Lodge resolution of ratification
designed to meet these objections to
the possible delegation of treaty MAX
ing power to the commission would
require the concurrence of the senate
in the full and unrestricted exercise
of it's constitutional powers to every
special agreement submitted to the
senate.
It would also govern the commits
sion's personnel by requiring the
to he ann0infed
by the president and confirmed by the
senate. Other propositions to be dis
posed of were the Root substitute Tor
the Lodge ratification resolution to
exclude from arbitration questions in
voIving maintenance of the country
traditional attitude on American ques-
tIons and the Bacon amendment to
the Root substitute barring the Mon
roe doctrine, state money obligations,
admission of aliens and other queS-
tions from arbitration and declaring
that nothing in these treaties shall be
construct to waive the Senate's con-
stitutional powers.
President Taft at first objected to
anything other than straight out rat
ffcation, but now he has given ms ap-
Droyal to the declaration which was
formulated by Secretary of State
Knox.
AS ratified. according to Colonel
Roosevelt's past utterances, the treat
les will represent a small advance
over our present position. The presi- !
dent insists the conventions. even with |
the declaration of the senate at
fached will mark a decided advance |
in world peace.
CuIIom Is Pleased.
Senator Cullom. chairman of the
foreign relations committee. who has
had charge of the treaties, expressed |
qualification that the senate is about
to dispose of them.
s'I think it would have been unfor-
+unate.p he continued, ''if they had |
failed of ratification. The United |
States in the past has taken the lead
an great movements in the interest of
Deace. and to reject the conventions
would have been evidence of our lack
Of faith in the settlement of disputes
Ioetween nations by means of arbitra-
ton. &c.,
ssII1hese treaties illustrate the friend
" relations existing between the Unit
ed States and Great Britain and
france The great movement through
ont the world in the interest of peace
Sa nrogressing with added impetus,
and II was this situation that prompt
ed President Taft to propose to the
representatives of Great Britain and
France the propriety of negotiating
treaties for the purpose of enlarg1ng
fba scope of arbitration to the end
that war might be averted, and that
differences should be adjudicated with
resDect to justice and right rather
+bon force have felt. if we were
sincere in our advocacy of peace by
means of arbitration, we should not
n hesitate to give our assent to their