The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-02-20
SENATE TAKES UP
TREATIES WITH
FOREIGN NATIONS
First Move in Effort to
Rehabilitate Re-
lations.
ACTION URGED BY
ADMINISTRATION
President Assured That Leaders
Of Both Houses Favor Repeal
of Toll Exemption-Clash
Between O'Gorman and
Root Marks Climax of
Heated Debate.

Washington, February ls.-Exten-
sion of general arbitration treaties
with foreign nations as tho first move
in the general policy of the admins
tration to rehabilitate foreign relations
of the United States, tonight seemed
assured. after the Senate had taken
UP consideration OF expired treaties,
and had closely defined issues involved
in the situation confronting the nation.
Before the debate in the Senate be-
gan on treaties with Great Britain,
Japan. Italy. Spain. Norway, Sweden,
Portugal and Switzerland. President
Wilson had conferred with Senators
and Representatives about the treaties,
as well as the paramount issue OF
Panama Canal tolls. He was assured
vote to repeal the toll exemption for
American ships after the treaties had
been ratified
During his conferences. tho Presi-
dent explained that it was the uni
vcrsal view of European nations that
tho United states had violated the Hay
clause in the Panama Canal act. He
said no official representations to that
effect had been presented: in fact. that
there mad been no protest from Great
Britain during the present admins
tration, but that he knew the impress
sion was broadcast in Europe that tho
United States was becoming reniss in
the keeping OF treaty obligations.
Lines Drawn Sharply.
n he of
tion rs TO the foreign policy of the gov
ernncnt were drawn sharply when
Senator Chamberlain, of Oregon, sub
mitted a general amendment to all
pending treaties. which would exempt
from arbitration by The Hague trib-
unal the following subjects:
Admission of aliens into the United
States
Admission of alien children into the
schools OF the various States. UnYolv-
ciiic fl co coast.p "''se 4ues''o'' Q" me ra-
All questions arising from the Mon
Provision of the Panama Canal act
exempting American coastwise ship
ping from tolls
Discussion Of the subject behind
closed doors enlivcned the Senate as
had not been done in many days, and
q clash between Senator'S O'Gorman and
Root. of New York, marked the climax
OF heated debate. Senator O'Gorman
assailed the. Carnegie endowment for
international peace, of which Senator
Root is president. declaring that il
did not seek to promote international |
peace, but to create an international
alliance between Great Britain and the
nnited States TO benefit officials who
would proht from such a conSumma-
ton Senator Root, taking the remarks
OF ms colleague as personal offense.
precipitated long discussion.
Appeal by ShiVcly.
senator Shively, acting chairman of
called up the treaties when the Sen.
ate had proceeded to consideration of
executive business, and in q speech, out
relationship of the United States with
other great powers OF the world. ap-
pealed TO the Senate to disregard local
offered n resolution that the treaty
with Spain, which had expired after
fve years existence, be extended with
This was in accordance with the
plan t or OF the committee to have threshed
out All the issues before a vote is
purposed to leave the British and jap
anese treaties until the last.
After the executive session Senator
situation was we'll in hand. and pre-
dicted ratification OF all the treaties
BY comfortable majority.
Senator Chamberlain opened the
fight against the treaties on behalf OF
Democrats who are opposed to n re-
peai Oh the Tree tOilS provision of the
Panama Canal act. He declared oppo-
sition to all arbitration pacts on the
general ground that this government
should not submit any American ques-
tion to foreign tribunal. The pend
ing treaties are alike. providing that
disputes at law or other interpreta-
tied by diplomacy could be submitted
to the permanent arbitration tribunal
at The Hague.
Will Not he Repudiated.
tration. Senator Chamberlain was
supported by Senators o'Gorman, Poin-
dexter, William Alden Smith. of Mich
however, that the policy of arbitration
will not be. repudiated by this Con-
gre;ss;; For ',3, this reason, Senator Cham
tect long, but offered an amendment
to limit their scope.
References by Senator Chamberlain
to the Carnegie endowment for inter
national peace caused Senator OGor-
man to expand the subject. with the
attack which aroused Senator Root.
exchange, the Republican Senator from
New York interrupted Mr.. OGorman
And M rebuked e him in strong terms. Whom
Senator. O,Gorman's statements as q
personal offense, the latter assured his
Root h"d no
tinued to resent Mr. OGorman's re-
marks despite his protestation.
sissippi, who also IS q trustee OF the
Carnegie endowment, also resented the
imputation that the endowment had
any surreptitious motives, but he at
tempted to smooth the tempest by the
declaration that Senator OGorman had
spoken impulsively.
When quiet had been restored debate
on the general issues continued. Sem
ator PoindeXter spoke at length against
adj the treaties and In support Of the
Chamberlain amendment.
II was agreed that nc. vote should be