The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-02-22
Adopted Without Any
Amendment to Limit
Their Scope.
SHOWS SUPPORT OF
WILSON'S POLICY
Supporters of Proposal for Re
peal of Panama Tolls Exemp-
ton Believe Practically Same
Support VIII Be Given
President on That
Question.

washington. FeOruary 6I--Wltnous
any amendment whatever to limit their
scope, the Senate. by moro than two
thirds vote. to-day ratified general ar
bitration treaties between the United
States and Great Britain, japan. Italy,
Spain, Norway. Sweden, Portugal and
Switzerland.
Attempts to exempt the Panama Can
al tolls question, or questions OF immi-
grafton and public education. which
were related to the treaties with Great
Britain and Japan, were defeated and
the conventions go into new force In
the same general terms as existed be-
fore they expired.
Tho vote. while an evidence Of tho
Senate's support OF President Wilson's
treaty policy. was interpreted by those
backing the Presidents proposal for q
repeal Of the Panama tolls exemption
as an indication that the President will
have practically the game support on
that question.
Ratification Of the conventions clears
the diplomatic atmosphere, so to speak,
relating to the Japanese protest against
the California antialien land laws and
British protests against Panama tolls
exemption. The phrase that the Unit
ed States was 'in state OF isolation"
Was frequently used in describing the
situation.
Held Up on Tolls Question.
The British treaty had been held up
particularly by those who were OPP
posed to submitting the tolls question
to The Hague President Wilson'S
plan to repeal the exemption included
first the ratification of the British
treaty as we'll as the other, ito first
rehabilitate the diplomatic relations OF
the United States" as some admins
tration supporters have described It
Technically the Senate ratified agree
ments TO extend the treaties 1--WE years
from June 4. 1913, the date on which
they expired.
Under the terms of the treaties aroi-
tration at The Hague Is provided for
differences of a legal nature or relat-
Ing to the Interpretation OF other
treaties existing, which II may not
have been possible to Settle by diplo-
Unsupported they do not affect the
vital interests. the independence or tho
honor of the contracting parties. and do
not concern the interests OF third par
ties. subject for arbitration. under
the treaties, however, must be en-
bodied In special agreement defining
the matter in dispute. the scope of the
arbitrator and other details.
Some Senators who voted for the
treaties may not vote for repeal OF the
Panama tolls provision, but President
Wilson Is confident OF a majority In
the Senate to support his foreign pro-
gram throughout.
Still Before Committee.
Matters still before the Senate
Foreign Relations Committee are the
Panama tolls question, the pending
treaty with Nicaragua, and the treaty
with Colombia growing out OF the sur
render of the Panama strip. Reports
on these, 1t is understood, Will be laid
before the Senate In the near future.
Although the majority for the ratifi-
cation Of the treaties was overwhelm-
I'M md n dina mt Err
arbitration the Panama tolls question
was rejected by more than two-thirds
vote, Senators who urge repeal of the
tolls exemption provision insist that
these votes are not significant of the
Senate on the tolls Issue. Senator
O'Gorman tonight said he did not re-
gard the ratification action as test
He Is determined to continue the fight
for tolls exemption.
The Senate is looking to the Presi-
dent for some initiative action In the
tolls matter and several Senators to-
day averred that the issue would be q
matter Of party caucus. That some
Democrats would refuse to enter such
4 caucus has been reported for several
days.
Arouses Opposition.
The treaty with Nicaragua, which
has been before the Senate for seven
months, is expected to be taken up for
further consideration by the Foreign
Relations Committee in the near fu-
ture. II provides for the purchase Of
4 perpetual option on the Nicaraguan
Canal route. and of naval station rights
on the shores of the Gulf of Fonseca,
for 100000 1t also proposes to cx-
tend the chief features of the Plat
amendment. which would give this
country control over the customs of
Nicaragua, to the relations between the
United States and Nicaragua. This
feature of the treaty has aroused OPP
position among some members of the
committee. They believe that such n
proposition is too far reaching.
Vigorous opposition to the treaty has
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