The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-02-21
Regarded as End of Con-
troversy Over For
eign Policy.
EVEN OPPOSITION
ADMITS VICTORY
Champions of Arbitration and
Leaders in Democratic Ranks
See in Result Indication That
Free Tolls Provision Will
Be Repealed With
out Trouble.

Washington. February 20.-By de-
| feating amendments TO general arbf-
tration treaties pending renewal with
| Great Britain. Japan and six other ma
tions. the Senate to-day took the first
decisive step In the policy of the adj
from what officials have characterized
as ''its isolated position in foreign re-
lations.
The supreme test of strength in the
treaty controversy came on an amend
ment to the Spanish treaty, urged by
Senator Chamberlain. of Oregon, which
would withhold from arbitration inter-
national issues. such as immigration.
the question Of admitting aliens to do
mestic schools, affairs involving the
Monroe Doctrine and Pan-American
toll exemption. This amendment was
rejected by n vote Of 40 to l3. more
than two-thirds majority.
This result was regarded by admin
istration leaders tonight as marking
the end of the controversy over the
governments foreign policy. and as
suring the ratification of treaties,
which expired more than n year ago.
with Great Britain. Japan Italy. Spain.
Norway, Sweden, Portugal and Switzer-
land.
After the vote had been taken 1t was
agreed that none of the treaties should
be put upon their ratification to-day,
but that amendments should be dis
cussed as applied to all disposition Of
morrow II was announced tonight
that no further amendments would be
| pressed.
big Fight Is Over.
| That the big fight was over was
conceded even by opposition LEADERS,
among them Senator'S Chamberlain and
! OGorman, who conducted the attack
on the treaties from within the Dem
ocratic breastworks. When the Cham
berlain amendment had been rejected
as applying to the Spanish treaty, the
British treaty was called up.
The amendment OF Senator Chamber
| lain again was offered and rejected
without a roll call. Other amen .nents
then We're proposed, one OF them re-
! ferring only to the question of Panama
tolls. This, too. was rejected after pro-
longed debate.
ternational principle and leaders in the
Democratic ranks. expressed gratih-
cation at the result. and many of them
saw in 1t an indication that the desire
of the President for peal OF the Pan
ANA tolls provision would be met with :
out difficulty. That this will be the
cupy the attention OF Congress there
| is no doubt.
President Wilson to-day let 1t be
He wants 1t signaled to the world that
the United States Will stand firmly by
its International obligations.
His Confidence Increases.
proposal that domestic commerce
| of all nations be exempted from canal
! tolls IL was made clear. would not be
acceptable to the administration. In
| formation had reached the President
which gave him confidence that q re-
| peal provision would pass both houses
! of Congress. and the action In the Sen
ate to-day served only to increase that
confidence so far as the upper House
| was concerned.
In the House the President has found
leader to carry on the fight for the
repeal In Representative Claude Kitch-
| in, of North Carolina, ranking member
Of the Ways and Means Committee
Majority Leader Underwood. who does
not agree that the exemption consti.
tutes violation OF the Hay-Pauncefott
treaty, has assured the President thai
| he will organize no opposition to repeal
the Senate cleared the way. in the
opinion of leaders. for smoother sail.
ing in all international negotiations
The Asiatic question. IT Is believed
| may be taken up by tho President anc
state Department in diplomatic wa,
Without embarrassing interference BY
| Congress In all other dealings. off.
Gals believe the United States viii
| find reader response from abroad as 6
result OF the Senate action.
Votes on resolutions OF ratification
row. The Spanish treaty probably viii
| be disposed of first.
Then will come the British treaties
and the others In order.