The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1914-01-31
Include Great Powers.

Include Great Powers.
The far-reaching character of this
group of treaties is shown by the long
list of first.rate powers with which they
are made, including most OF the great
powers of Europe, South Amerlca and
the Orient. On the list are Great Brit
ain, Japan, Italy, Spain, Norway, swe-
den, Portugal, Switzerland and France,
the pact with tho latter having been
ratified last February. Similar treaties
which will expire within year or two
exist with The Netherlands, Denmark,
China, Austria Hungary, Peru, Saliva
dor, Costa Rica, Paraguay, Haiti, Ecua-
dor, Brazil and Uruguay. Another
treaty of the same kind with Mexico
expired last June and was not renewed.
The senate committee today consld-
cred those of the treaties soon to expire
and agreed, inasmuch as they are lden-
tical with the eight recommended Tor
extension, that they should be approved
for extension as rapidly as they expire.
Paramount Importance.
Aside from the importance of these
treaties In the cause Of arbitration,
some of them have larger significance
in affecting the political and interna-
tional relations between the United
States and other countries, 1t ls un-
derstoood to have been the purpose of
President Wilson and Secretary Bryan
in urging prompt ratification to estab-
lish a pacific bulwark which would fur
ther lessen the possibility of cOmplica-
tions on any of the existing foreign
problems, including those growing out
of the Mexican revolution, the Panama
tolls question with Great Britain, and
the issues with Japan In respect to nat
uralization, land tenure, etc.
All OF the treaties acted upon today
are practically identical and provide for
a limited arbitration of questions which
cannot be adjusted by diplomacy and
expressly excluding those affecting the
honor, independence or vital interests
of the parties.
Only First Step.
This group of limited arbitration
treaties is distinct from the other arbi-
tration plan proposed by Secretary Bry-
an. The limited treaties are the hrst
realization of arbitration plans begun
at The Hague conferences. They are
recognized as only the first step toward
averting war, as they are limited in
scope 10 questions not involving ma
tional honor or sovereignty. The Taft
administration went step further by
framing arbitration treaties enlargine
this scope and including virtually al
questions OF dispute between nations
These conventions, however, remained
unratifed.
Mr.. Bryan has gone step still fur
ther in the march of arbitration. in the
proposal of April "a last that 'fall
questions Of whatever character and
nature" shall when diplomatic efforts
fail, he submitted TO an international
commission for investigation, the con
tracing nations agreeing s'not to de
clare war or begin hostilities until such
investigation is made and report sub
mitted.' Mr.. Bryan's advanced plar
has been accepted in principle by TWEEN
ty-nine nations, and seven treaties al
ready have been signed, the last will
The Netherlands on December 16 last
The senate has not yet acted on them
and the action taken today related en-
tirely to the original group providing
broadly for limited arbitration.