The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-01-29
Arbitration With Great Britain
Japan. Italy and Portugal
Discussed in Light of Com
plications.
Differences of United States
With Other Nations Over
Canal Tolls. Treaties and
Mexican Situation Matters of
Concern.

NASHINGTON. jan 2S,--The SEN
ate foreign relations committee to-
day took the first step in the program
which President Wilson has outlined
for relieving the United States Of
some of the embarrassmentsn now con-
fronting II in its foreign relations.
The committee called up the pend
ing arbitration treaties with Great
Britain. Japan, Italy and Portugal.
"A discussion Of the treaties indicated
an early report on them in practically
the form in which they have been
acnt to the senate By the state de-
partment
That the committee has earnestly
ret about the task Of clearing up i'm
porfAnt foreign affairs, matters that
have been pending for several months,
was Indicated further by the fact that
the senator's will hold another meet
Ing tomorrow. Favorable action on
the arbitration treaties is expected
10 follow In the senate within few
days
With the arbitration treaties dis
posed of the administration will di-
rect its attention to the Panama canal
tolls question. The president already
has indicated to members Of the for
e4gn relations committee that he Is
against the granting of free tolls to
american coastwisc ships and believes
some legislative action ought to be
taken which will remove Great Brit
aims ground at complaint that the
Panama canal act constitutes a viola
ton of the Hay-Pauncefote treaty
Tr0uhIeN DcyeInped.
xe1oped between the United States
and Great Britain over the Panama
canal tolls question. the Irritation OF
other European powers over che same
subject, the feeling against the United
Etetes in Russia. because OF INC AFRO
ention of the commercial treaty; the
failure of the senate to act on arh-
fraxion treaties negotiated by ma
44ons Of the first-ciass by order OF
Faith and the issue of Japan over tho
CAAfornia alien land laws have DE-
yNloped situation which LIS likely 70
hamper the United States in Hs Efforts
90 solve the difficulties in Mexico.
All Of these matters are giving the
administration considerable concern
1t this time. not because OF any single
tasue involved. but because OF the
pecunarly isolated position In which
the United States would ma itself
n the event Of serious trouble be-
Ing precipiiated by any nation
Situation May BE Alarming.
The Mexican situation in Nself y
no more alarming now than " mas
been, but the members OF the sen
ate foreign relations committee who
have talked with President Wilson
have been graveiy impressed with the
uors4bility OF II being the means
Eventually Of leading tn complications
with some other powers
EFFORTS were made here in official
quarters today to minimize the signih'
canoe of the Japanese activity in con-
nection with the Mexican situation
but the fact of the matter Is that this
Mbiect was seriously discussed at the
conference between the president and
the foreign relations committee the
other night. and it has given the mem
hers Of the senate committee more
concern than any other feature OF the
foreign relations situation.
There is good reason to believe thai
the Japanese government will, as the
result OF recent developments here
hasten to pat itself GA record in Wash
tngton as disayowing the slightest In
tention to EN- barrass the United States
n MEXICO.
II was intimated here today that
the Toxic government Will contend
that the arms sold to Huerta were
not from the Japanese government
but from private contractors
Statement Issued.
Members OF the senate committee or
foreign relations were considerably tr-
Fitated by some newspaper accounts
Of the presidents conferences with
them. Senator Bacon, chairman Of
the committee. issued this. statement
THE committee on foreign rela.
lions ut it's regular meeting this morn
in instrucgted me to state upon tht
personal assurance OF each member
n tho committee. that the purported
interview of alleged information
xhich appeared in the public press Of
January 27th and 2Sth. relative to n.
eyed statement and utterances by ths
president or by any senator who wa.
present 1t the conference between the
PRECEDENT and the committee on for.
elgn relations on the evening of the
twenty sixth Of January. were no,
made, given or authorized by any
4enAtor. who was then present. and
khAt said published interviews and al.
|steGed information as to alleged oc'
surrcnces in said conference purport
Inn to come from any senator pres.
3nt at the conference are pure fabrica'
tt0ns. resting presumably upon CUES,