The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-01-11
TREATY ADVOCATES
 MUCH ENCOURAGED
Plan Proposed Before the Senate Committee Meets
 With Favor

Washington, January 10,-Supporters of
 the general arbitration treaties with
 Great Britain and France today were en- | couraged in their hope for early rati-
 fication of the pacts when a plan for adopting the treaties was advanced be- fore the Senate committee on foreign re- lations. The committe did not act, but the plan met with favorable comment and administration officials expressed
 satisfaction over the outlook
 The proposed amendment to the resolu-
 tion of ratification would preserve to the
 Senate all of it's prerogatives and would
 be binding on this country, The Senate
 would be gwen an opportunity to pass
 upon all matters to be submitted for
 arbitration, but the treaties themselves
 would be left intact and no further
 negotiations would be required.
 This apparent solution of d vexed situ- alton followed a conference early in the
 day between Senator Lodge of the Senate committee on foreign relations
 and Secretary of State Knox The secre- | tary declared thero was no intention ever
 Of abrosatins or abrdging the powers oi
 the Senate
 1 After 6 protracted discussion Senator 1 Lodge left for the capitol to meet with 1 the committee. 1t was understood wher
 he left the department that there was an
 understanding that the new agreement
 would set aside the Root and other pend
 ing amendments to the treaties.
 l The amendment probably will be made 1 the subject of d supplemental report
 from the foreign relations committee. II
 provides that All special arrangements submitting any questions decided by the l joint high commission to be justifiabc
 under article three of the treaty shall
 also be submitted to the Senate for rati- fication in the same manner as an agree
 ment presented by the president under the first article of the treaty.
 All republican members present ex-
 pressed themselves in favor of this change. but the democrats, including Senators Stone of Missouri, Clark of Arkansas. Bacon of Georgia and Hitch
 cock of Nebraska, voiced opposition l The proposed amendment. which would
 leave the treaties intact as submitted by l President Taft, also requires that names
 of members of the joint commission pro- posed by the president on behalf of the | United States, shall be submitted to the | Senate for confirmation.
 | The measure was suggested by Senator Lodge and was discussed at considerable length. No vote was taken, but the
 friends of the treaties were much en- couraged by the trend of the talk The republican side of the Senate is
 being thoroughly canvassed to ascertain
 the possibility of obtaining favorable action and the leaders were gratified at the prospect The outlook is not so good on the democratic side. The democratic
 supporters of the treaties have asked for delay and there is some apprehension that the question may become involved in politics.
 When the committee meets again the subject will be taken up in earnest and the sentiments of the members definitely ascertained. At todays meeting. q sub committee, consisting of Senators Lodge McCumber and Clark of Arkansas, was appointed to consider the resolution of Senator Cummings making the treaties of general application.