The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-01-29
to Accelerate Rat
ification Of Arbitra-
tion Treaties.
HOPES TO PREVENT
ANY ILL-FEELING
Acute Condition of Affairs in
Mexico Compels Administra-
ton to Remove All Sources
of Grievances, Real or
Imaginary, Held by
European Powers.
Especial to The Times -Dispstch.l

Washington. January 2S.-President
Wilson to-day began the task Of ac-
celebrating ratification OF the pending
arbitration treaties before the Foreign
Relations Committee. particularly that
with Great Britain.
There are sixteen general treaties
pending, all OF which Iapsed At the
expiration OF five-year periods termi-
mating in June Of last year The most
important are those with Great Britain.
italy and Japan The French treaty
was ratified promptly. The Canal tolls
question then arose. and rather than
pass over tho British treaty. all of
them were pgeonholed.
The acute condition OF affairs in
Mexico. coupled with the activity OF
Japan in that republic. admittedly com
pcls the administration TO remove all
sources OF grievances. real or imagin-
AIRY, held by European powers. II the
time is coming when the United States
must deal sharply with the Japanese
question. the President wants no ILL
feeling In Europe Hence his great
desire for prompt ratification of the
arbitration treaty with Great Britain
ana legislation that will eliminate the
pending controversy over Canal tolls.
No Note TO japan.
1t developed to-day that so acute
did the administration consider the
Japanese situation last year when it
sent its note to the powers requesting
them not TO interfere, but TO await the
American policy in Mexico, that no such
request was sent to Japan. 1t was
the only power ignored.
1t is now argued that this failure
TO communicate with Japan was due
10 a fear that that government might
not Ike inclined to comply.
Continued acquiescence of Europe in
President Wilson'S Mexican policy is
absolutely essential, il is said. and that
cooperation, ii is explained by Sena
tors. will he facilitated by the United
lens in which Europe and the United
States are directly concerned.
Ii was said to-day that the admins
tration has learned much more within
the last few days regarding the activ-
ity or Japan I'm Mexico than had been
known Before. The fact has been made
plain that Japanese merchants have
been supplying Huerta with arms, and.
while no suspicion exists that the Jap
anesc government as such has aided
Hucrta with arms. il is known that
these munitions had been the property
of the government, and became obso-
lete when the array was equipped with
modern weapons. They were then sold
TO contractors
In sympathy with Mexico.
Many occurrences. like the sending
of the Japanese warship 10 Mexico
ana the fete in honor Of the Japanese
officers. arranged By order of Huerta,
have accumulated to suggest that,
while Europe is backing the United
States in sincere good faith in its
Mexican policy, Japan is openly in
sympathy with Mexico. and is exercis-
ing no restraint in her efforts TO win
premier position III Mexican esti-
nation.
But the danger which is now said
TO confront the administration. and
which has been emphasized of late. is
that Europe. acting for the protection
OF her own subjects and not In a
threatening spirit, Is on the point Of
suggesting to the United States that
if we do not intervene in Mexico, Eu-
rope will. One OF tho most important
questions in connection with this pos
sibility is the position OF England and
her ally, Japan. 1t is within the
power OF England to check interven-
tion and to restrain Japan, but ii is be-
ing pointed out here by men OF the
ripest experience that she can hardly
be expected to exert herself actively
in this direction, unless she may ex-
pect friendly treatment in return
The ratification OF the British treaty,
Sepators said to-day. would he a posi-
tive step toward 81 foreign policy that
would commend itself to the country
II is claimed that il would remove the
tolls question from the field of doubt,
step which. primarily affecting Great
Britain is Of equal Importance TO all
other maritime nations. Should the
administration be able to make and
ratify new commercial treaty with
Russia the chain OF friendly under
standing among the great European
nations and tho United States, ii is
said. would be well-nigh complete.