New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-04-24
BRYAN SAYS SENATORS
APPROVE PEACE PLAN
But Senators Say They Indorse
Only the General Principle
Which It EmbOdieS.
ARMAMENT FEATURE SNAC
Members of Foreign Relations
Committee Discuss the Sub.
ject at Length with Sec
rotary of State.
/ From The Tribune Bureau. 7


From The Tribune Bureau
Washington, April 2S.-The Secretary Of
State, after two hours conference to.
day with the Committee on Foreign Rels.
tons OF the Senate, left the Capitol with
the conviction that his plan for the
achievement of world peace meets with
the approval Of the members of the COM
mittse, Republicans as well as Democrats
He will. accordingly, confer with the
President as the next step in his plan Of
campaign and then submit the plan 10
foreign governments. WIFE view to Sc
curing treaties putting 1t into effect.
The committee gave its full approval
to the general plan which | submitted"
said Nj Bryan Il will lay the matter
before the President as soon as ! have an
opportunity. Until then | do not wish TO
MAKE public the details of the plan which
has received the approval OF the Senate
committee
The conclusions reached by Secretary
BRYAN as TO the result OF the conference
differ somewhat from those of several
members OF the committee. There was
according To these. no objection TO the
principle involved in the Bryan peace
scheme. principle which is not new. hay-
ing served as the basis for the Arbitration
treaties submitted by President Tart and
which is embodied in the Canadian water
WAYS treety with Great Britain. nsgoti-
ated by Secretary Root. and having been
first formally outlined ia the second
Hague conference Of 1870.
So far as the Bryan plan provides
method whereby a declaration Of war by
one nation against another may be de-
layed for six months or a year, until pop
ular passion has subsided, il was al
proved without reservation By Republic
can as well as Democratic members OF
the committee. Discussion OF the plan.
however, as suggested by one member OF
the committee. was somewhat nebulous or
academic and involved little more than
the central idea.
Armament Question a Problem.
That feature Of the plan providing that
the military and naval programme OF
nations at controversy should remain in
statu quo while the international COM
mission was making an investigation was
pronounced wholly impracticable by mem
bers of the committee, vhereupon Mr.
Bryan said it was non-essental.
Senator Root. while approving the gen
eral idea suggested that the problem Of
armament which was largely an AGA
demic question in the United States. was
Gerry practical one to European govern
ments As an illustration he cited the sit
uation in which Germany would find her
self in case OF a controversy with the
United States According TO Mr. Bryan's
proposal. Germany would be obliged 10
suspend all military preparations for a
year or six months, as the treaty nigh,
provide, while France when Germanys
hands were tied. might improve the op-
portunity TO increase her military and
naval strength To an unusual degree.
A possible conflict between Japan and the
United States was also cited a. an obiec-
ton To the armament scheme. n Japan
should have occasion To make war upon
the United States it was argued, she
might induce Mexico 10 enter into A con-
troversy with this country which would
result in the application Of the treaty
proposed by Mr.. Bryan. In mat event
the hands OF the United States would De
tied because of the Mexican controversy
while japan would have ample time 10
make preparations for conflict.
Some difference of opinion developer
among members of the committee as 10
whether the armament feature was es'
sential some taking the ground that
without it the treaties would he Of lite
practical value Mr.. Bryan viii prooaoH
make an attempt TO induce the foreign
governments TO adopt II.
The greater part of the conference was
taken up with Secretary Bryan's eNplanF
ton of his ideas. the Senators expressing
their approval of his general purpose
without indorsing the scheme I'm detail
Difficult Phase to Come.
Although there will probably he ~
marked opposition 10 the proposed
treaties in the Senate. as they involve 10
surrender OF rights by this government,
and no curtalment of the authority oil
the Senate in the conduct OF foreign re1S
lions. the general impression seems to DC
that the most difficult phase Of the tasS
still confronts Secretary Byzantine ne
gotiation OF the treaties.
As explained TO the committee vi.
Bryan's plan provides for utilization u
the international commissions OF inquiry
provided for by the second Hague cur
ventions When diplomatic negotiations
fail 10 adjust the controversy oet"ce"
two countries and an impasse iesu'"
according to the proposed plan me eo'"
tries may appeal TO I'll, international .oin
mission, previously created, 10 uhue' '
An inquiry, or the commission may
its own initiative. undertake an lh'es"
CATION to elucidate the facts OF the eo"
troversv and define the points al issu'
The countries involved would p'e'e
themselves To take no steps toward W."
during the time allowed for such lnq""'
This delay. IL Is argued by MI. otssn
and this view is shared generaiH V
members of the Foreign Relations w"
mittee-would allow the warlike ardo' v
the people OF the two countries 10 ~.
and pave the way for the paclhc se''
ment OF the dispute.