The Washington herald., 1912-12-09
Report that He Will Influence the
Adoption of Taft Programme
Reaches Capital.
BRYCE MAY PROL0NG
STAY IN UNITED STATES
Retiring President Will Give All
Assistance in His Power to
Aid in Work.

gist of a report which reached here
to-day. In order to facilitate considera-
tion Of the texts Of the treaties between
Great Britain and the United States and
France and the United States, Mr.. Will
son will take up the question formally
as soon as the new alignment Of the
next Congress is known.
As there was a report current that
President Taft would withdraw the
treaties that failed of ratification at the
last session, Mr.. Charles D. Hilles. Sec
retary to the President, authorized the
information that Mr.. Taft will not in
any way take any steps that might mimi
mize the influence in favor of the
treaties. In fact. the Presidents atti-
tude will be Quiescent and wholly un-
affected by politics, and he himself will
welcome any Democratic tendency tC
conclude successfully legislation inaug.
urated by him.
The change in the prospect OF the
treaties has been brought about by the
result OF the European wars which have
conclusively shown, in the opinion of
Washington officials, that The Hague
tribunal of arbitration has failed OF pur-
pose in the prevention OF war. As one Of
the arguments of Senators opposed to the
American treaties was the The Hague
tribunal was all-suficient in arbitration,
its weakness has been proved by the way
the European warning factions have dis
counted the tribunals possibilities in
their respective cases.
Wilson to Investigate.
As the Presidents reason for the arbi-
tTation treaties was that treaties should
govern the powers by individual con.
tract with each other. it is believed that
the effect of this contention will be
-.
OF the treaties with England and France.
President Wilson will look into their
merits and will endeavOr to have a
Democratic Congress take advantage OF
an opportunity abandoned by a Repub-
lican Senate to make the United States q
pioneer of International peace.
1t is understood that a tacit under
standing about the treaties exists be-
tween outgoing of1claldOm and the in
coming administration, and that Mr..
Wilson. who desires to famillarize him
self with the arbitration question, will
receive the benefit of President raft's
knowledge in studying il. 1t is likely,
owing to this change in plans, that Mr.
Bryce, the British Ambassador, will pro-
long his stay to continue his negotia-
tiOns with the officials appointed TO act.
II is not doubted, however. that the
treaties will undergo a change in verbi-
age and will bear the names of new
plenipotontiaries.
The arbitration treaties urged by the
President, and abandoned in the Senate
because some Senators held that the
sovereignty of the Senate and its abso-
lutte right in all questions involving the
honor and vital Importance of this Coun-
try were endangered by the provisions
Of Article III, may undergo a thorough
revision and will probably be worded
differently, but the intents and purposes
of the treaties will be retained, il is
said, the maintenance OF peace being the
object TO be attained. Politics may have
little voice during these negotiations, as
the question of arbitration has been
handled by President Taft with no re-
gard TO politics, but only to humanitar-
ian principles, and the same motive is
said to inspire Mr.. Wilson to consider
their enactment.
The Italian-Turkish war. recently con-
cluded, and the Balkan war continuing
to-day, are responsible for the change
in the situation here with regard to the
treaties. One of the chief reasons held
out by some Senators against the Anglo
American treaty was that such treaty
was not necessary because The Hague
Tribunal provided all the requirements
for the arbitration of international dis
putes, the question of what might con-
stitute a dispute of vital Importance
or affecting the national honor to be
taken up by the contestants. Turkey
and Italy both refused all the opportu-
mites given them to have recourse be-
fore the tribunal of arbitration. and the
war of Turkey against the allied Bal
kan states, declared and started without
ultimatums referable to arbitration. has
intensified the conviction in diplomatic
circles that The Hague Tribunal is be-
coming a dead letter. Unless the
powers agree by individual treaties to
arbitrate, it is held in official circles
that arbitration is not feasible.
Wants Treaties RatiHed.
Mr.. Taft would be immensely pleased
to see the treaties ratified, even under
Democratic regime, and he stands
ready to aid the cause to the limit of
his influence. He believes in arbitra-
ton, Notwithstanding that he has a keen
realization of all the complications sur
rounding the drafting of suitable, elastic.
and yet comprehensive texts that will
bind governments whose officials volun-
tarily accept the provisions of the paCts.
Aside from what credit the President
would derive as the official father of arbi-
tration of questions of national honor,
II would please him immensely to be vim
dicated by the Senators of an opposition
party. For it is said by those who are in
close touch with the White House that
the President believes politics had more
TO do with the defeat of the KnoX-Bryce
and Knox-Jusserand treaties than the
merit proper of the dispute anent the
Senate's authority and dignity.
Reports reaching Washington in a
way tend TO show that Mr.
Wilson'S attitude on the subject will be
receptive and inclines favorably toward
assuming the responsibility to push the
treaties to success. Mr.. Wilson, how
ever. has not committed himself, and will
not do so. especially because the ques-
ton of arbitration is one with which he
is not overfamiliar, except by heresay.
Germany is another country that will
cheerfully agree to become party to a
similar treaty with the United States il
there is any indication that favorable
action with regard to the others will
ensue.