Arizona republican., 1913-01-06
Brinqs Out Division.


 WASHINGTON. Jan 5-President Tafts declaration that he intends the Panama canal controversy with Great Britain to be submitted for arbitration as soon as we get down to the point at issue" again brought out the sharp division that exists in the senate over the obligation of the United States un- der the arbitration treaty. Senator Bacon, a leading democratic member of the Foreign Relations committee; Sen ator Hitchcock, another democratic member of the committee and other prominent members of the senate, eX- pressed the conviction that the United States is bound by the treaty with Great Britain to submit to arbitration. Senator Root of New York. who is not now in Washington, holds the same view. Senator Sutherland. republican, also member of the committee. has previously expressed the belief that the subject is a domestic one and not such as the United States is compelled to arbitrate Senator Bacon, in q state ment, based on President Taft's an nouncement. suggests that the United States, if it submitted to arbitration,  nal so constituted as to insure impar- tial judgment.
 T think the question Great Britain raises" Bacon said, lis one that arises upon the interpretation of the Paunce- fote treaty. We have a treaty with Great Britain which specifically pro- vides that we submit to arbItration any questions growing out of the interpre- tation of treaties. provided they do not effect the vital interests, the indepen- derce or the honor of the two contract ing states and do not concern the in terests of third parties"
 Senator Townsend, of the canal con- mission, said:
 We might as well abandon the Monroe doctrine as to submit the ques- ton to arbitration. I am inclined to prefer reconsideration of canal legis- lation'
 My judgment is said Senator Gull Iom. chairman of the foreign relations committed that of it's own free will congress ought to collect tolls on the Coastwise trade as well as from other branches of the canal business, without reference to any treaty. There will Dc no complaint if that policy can be de- cided upon. I am inclined to thinl that whether we collect tolls or not we ought tc control the coastwise trade and I believe that point will be con ceded to us Everything else involved between the United States and th' other nations I would be willing t' submit to arbitration"
 Senator Burton of the foreign rela tions committee strongly favored suh mission of the question to arbitration
 T do not see how we can honoraol. refuse this course" he said.
 ITO submit this question to arbltra ton would be, indeed, the supreme tes of our faith in arbitration" said Sena tor Shiveley, d democrat on the for eigr relations committee.
 Senator Page of the inter-Ocean ca nal committee favored repeating tn law
 II think the treaty can not be con strued as applying to other countrle and not to our own, as We have oone' he said.
 My disposition would be to leaV the entire subject to the next admins tration,"
 Senator Fletcher, a democrat fror Florida, said: T have been lnchned oppose arbitration. but do not conslde it a grave question"
 The Panama question is purelS domestic one, not such as we are re quired by treaty to submit to arpltra tion," said Senator Jones of Washing ton. member of the committee lhS framed the Panama canal free tol act T consider it a question such is rot covered by treaties requiring al bitration of international disputes.
 Senator Gallinger, chairman or u republican caucus, said: Il am oppose to arbitration on this subject, becau' I consider it a domestic question: u canal has been built on our own SC by our own money and we should col trol it."
 T am inclined to think that we Sht be compelled by the terms ot the arp tration treaty to submit the can question to arbitration. Sehat Hitchcock of the foreign relations cor mitte said 'I regret the necessity