The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-02-21
SENATE D|SPOSES
OF AMENDMENTS TO
PENDING TREATIES
Clears Way for Smoother
Sailing in international
Negotiations
PRESIDENT FAVORS
OUT AND OUT REPEAL
Wants 1t Signaled TO World U. S.
Will Stand Firmly by Its Inter
national Obligations-Votes on
Ratification Resolutions Today

Washington, February 2o.-By defeat
ing amendments to general arbitration
treaties pending renewal with Great Brit
ain, Japan and six other nations, the
Senate took the first decisive step In the
policy of the administration to lift the
United States from what officials have
characterized as its isolated position
in foreign relations !
Amendment to Spanish Treaty
The supreme test of strength in the
treaty controversy came on amend |
ment to the Spanish treaty. urged by
Senator Chamberlain of Oregon, which
would withhold from arbitration import
ant international issues, such immi- |
grafton, the question of admitting aliens
to domestic schools, affairs involving the
Monroe doctrine and Panama tolls exemp-
ton. This amendment was rejected by a /
vote of 10 to no. more than rwo-thirds
majority.
This result was regarded by majority |
leaders tonight as marking the end of
controversy over the governments for
eign policy and assuring the ratification
of treaties which expired more than a
year ago with Great Britain, Japan, Italy.
Spain, Norway, Sweden, Portugal and
Switzerland.
After the vote, had been taken it was
agreed that none of the treaties should
be put upon their ratification today, but
that amendments should be discussed as
applied to all disposition of the treaties
to be deferred until tomorrow 1t was
announced tonight that no further
amendments would be pressed.
Opposition Comedies Fight Over
| That the big fight was over was cor
ceded even by opposition leaders, among
them Senators Chamberlain and OGor-
man. who conducted the attack on the
treaties from within the democratic
| breastworks. When the Chamberlain
amendment had been rejected as apply
ing TO the Spanish treaty, the British
treaty was called up. the amendment
| of Senator Chamberlain again was Of
| fered and rejected without roll call
Other amendments then were proposed.
one of them referring only to the ques-
tion of Panama tolls. This, too, was
rejected after prolonged debate.
Champions of arbitration as an inter-
national principle and leaders in the dem
ocratic ranks, expressed qualification at
| the result, and many of them saw IN
it an indication that the repeal of the
| Panama tolls proposition would be met
without difficulty. That this will be the
next important foreign mat,er 10 occupy
the attention of Congress there is no
doubt
Wilson Wants No Compromise
| President Wilson let 1t be known to-
day that he is for out ana out repeal:
that there can be no compromise. He
wants 1t signaled to the world that the
| United States will stand firmly by its
| international obligations.
| A proposal that domestic commerce of
all nations be exempted from canal tolls,
| it was made clear, would not be accept
| able to the administration Informa-
| ton had reached the President which
| gave him confidence that repeal pro-
| vision would pass both houses of Con-
| gress, and the action In the Senate to-
| day served only to increase that COLI
fidence so far as the upper house was
! concerned
| In the House the President has found
! a leader to carry on the tight for the
| repeal in Representative Claude Kitct-
in of North Carolina. ranking member
of the ways and means committee Ma
jority Leader Underwood, who does not
agree that the exemption constitutes
violation of the -Pauncefote treaty.
has assured the President that he VIII
organize the opposition to repeal
| In dsposing of treaty Amendments the
Senate cleared the way, m the opinion
of leaders, for smoother sailing in. al,
international negotiations. The Asiatic
question, it is believed, may be taken
up by the President and scare depart
ment in a diplomatic way without EN-
Il barrassing interference by Congress. IN
all other dealing. off.cIafs believe the
United States will find rescier response
from abroad as a result or the Senate's
| action.
Votes on resolutions of ratification of
all the treaties are expected tomorrow.
The Spanish treaty probably VIII be dis
posed of first. Then will come the Brit
ist, traotx, and tba otherS in orfIar