Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-06-07
BLOCK TREATIES
FOR ARBITRATION
Senators Fight Renewal of the
Pact With Britain Due to
Panama Tolls.
JAPANESE ISSUE is UP
Ratification ct Plan for Compulsory
Adjudiciations May Be
Prevented.

the cooe that has bound the United
States with "a great and lesser ma
tions for tie last five years is in dan
ger. Unless there is change of senti-
ment in the senate the renewal of 2S
treaties which gave concrete evidence
OF this nations belief in such a policy
may be impossible.
In executive session last night the
senate again failed to ratify renewals
OF the arbitration agreements with
Great Britain, Italy and Spain, which
recently expired There conventions
provide that questions relating to the
Interpretation of treaties, excepting
those that cannot be settled through
diplomatic channels or those of vital
interest, national honor or independ-
ence, shall be submitted to The Hague
tribunal.
A similar treaty with France has
been renewed
DISCUSS CANAL AND JAPAN.
The main argument of the night
arose over the contention that if the
treaty with Great Britain were rati-
lied the Panama canal tolls question
would have to be submitted to The
Hague. During the discussion the Jap
anese question and the general atti-
tude of the nation toward compul-
sorry arbitration was brought up. This
led to expression of views against en-
trance into such binding agreements
in future.
motion to re-refer the three
treaties TO the foreign relations COM
mittee with instructions that the one
with Great Britain be modified so as
to exempt specifically the Panama
canal tolls question was abandoned.
but prolonged debate was predicted for
future sessions and friends of the
principle of arbitration were alarm
ed at the strength displayed by the
opposition.
Some senators showed a disposition
to criticise the making of compulsory
arbitration agreements even if thev
bound only in cases which do not af-
feet vital interest, national honor or
independence.
ADVISES SOME QUIT COUNTRY.
AASAS oA iudns pSOpIB III the
United States and in the senate" said
one senator, who ought to live in
England"
Although the treaties probably have
many supporters, Chairman Bacon or
the foreign relations committee was
about the only one who spoke in their
behalf. He held the view, however,
that nnnar the iel,
questions must be arbitrated. Besides,
he expressed sympathy with the Cali
fornia land legislation to which Japan
has taken exception.
Senator Chamberlain was the only
member to object to the British
treaty when it first came before the
senate with the approval of the for
eign relations committee, but in last
nights session there were nine SEN
ators behind him who expressed the
same view.
The Oregon senator made the open-
ing argument. He contended that there
could be little question that under
the proposed agreement the tolls cues
ton must be arbitrated. He pointed
to utterances of Sir Edward GRAY.
British minister for foreign affairs.
as a vindication of his position.
Senator O'Gorman, chairman of the
lnteroceanic canal committee, in direct
charge Of Panama legislation, declared
MS opposition to arbitration of this
issue, but said that in his opinion the
treaty would not cover it, contending
that 1t fell within the list of excep-
lions.
TRIES TO EXEMPT TOLLS
Senator Crawford, Pomerene and
Bristow argued against ratification of
the British agreement. Senator Bris-
tow offered a resolution modifying
the treaty so that the tolls question
would be exempted specifically.
Chairman Bacon asked the senate to
vote against such a proposal, declar-
ing that no distinctions should be
made between nations. He favored
the ratification of the pacts, saying
that aside from the tolls question the
United States might find itself in a
controversy with Great Britain in the
next FIVE years which it would be glad
to submit TO The Hague.
Senator Lewis counseled moderation
ana a considerate spirit He thought
the vexing questions could be smooth.
ed out and that ratification was pos
sible.
Senator Borah took the stand that
II the United States was wrong in
It's attitude in the tolls matter it
should take the manly" stand and
openly admit its mistake. Senator
Newlands was against compulsory ar
bltration, but favored the "persua-
sive" sort.
DEFENDS CALIFORNIA; LAW,
Senator Works of California made
the speech bringing in the japanese
question He defended the alien land
law OF his state and announced his
alsoeiief in the soundness of inter
ference with the acts of a sovereign
state by the national government. He
was opposed to treaties which would
bind the states in matters of this
sort.
IL was pointed out that II the ar.
oitration agreements were not ratified
the United States would be bound
only by the second Hague treaty. un-
Ter which disputes relating to inter !