The Washington herald., 1915-09-20
EARLY Calling Of
SENATE IS EXPECTED
Wilson May Call Extra Session for
Consideration of Pending
Treaties.

! President Wilson may call the Senate
into extra session next month for the
consideration of pending treaties.
Senator Stone. of Missouri, chairman
of the Committee on Foreign Relations
arrived in Washington yesterday and
/ will have a conference with the Presi-
dent today Or tomorrow on the subject
of an extra session of the Senate for this
purpose. 1t is thought probable that
some announcement will be forthcoming
after the Senator's visit to the White
House.
The treaties pending are those with
Colombia and Nicaragua. They were
both vigorously opposed during the last
Congress. 1t Is expected that IL an
extra session is called for consideration
of these treaties. the administration will
also place before the Senate the treaty
with Haiti. signed last week. providing
for a United States protectorate over
the negro republic
1t became known here last night that
many Senators have been under the
definite impression that the President
would convene the Upper House Of Con-
gress six weeks or two months earlier
than the date for the regular session of
Congress. December /. Senator Fletcher,
of Florida, who was in Washington last
week. informed friends that it was the
general expectation that the Senate
would be convened in advance of the
regular session. Senator Kern, ma jority
leader in the Senate. has for some time
been urging that the Senate be convened
early for the purpose of passing a cloture
rule.
OF the treaties now pending. that with
Colombia has attra acted the most atten-
tion and aroused the most vigorous Op-
position. This treaty. negotiated in Bo-
gotta last year. provides for the payment
of so. eco O6O to Colombia. in compensation
for the losses suffered by the South
American republic through the separa-
tion of Panama. In Article / 1t makes
this important concession to the feelings
OF the COlombians:
The government of the United States
of America wishing to put at rest all
controversies and differences with the
republic of Colombia arising out of the
events from which the present situation
on the Isthmus of Panama resulted, ex
presses. on its own part and in the name
of the people of the United States. sim
Cere regret that anything should have
occurred to interrupt or mar the rela-
tions of cordial friendship that have so
long subsistcd between the two nations.
.BInckmaiI,'' Says T. II.
II was this expression of regret"
which resulted in such bitter storm of
disa pproval from Col Roosevelt and his
friends who declared that the payment
OF 81. .G0S. .0ot. under the circumstances,
would be blackmail. The opposition to
the treaty in the Senate also was -
strong that the administration did no.
insist upon its ratification during last
winters session. So much OF the oppo-
sir fn encountered with
in the Presidents own party that DOUBT
still exists in the minds Of some of his
advisers as to the practicability Of press
ing il for ratification at tine forthcoming
session of the Senate. The Colombian
senate has. of course. already ratified
the treaty and is anxiously awaiting its
by the United States Senate.
The NicaraGuan treaty has been before
the Senate in one form or another for
more than two years. In its present form
it provides for the payment of 100000 to
the government of Nicaragua by the
| I-nited States. This sum is to be paid in
exchange for NiCaraGuas rights to the
So-called Nicara guam interoCeanic canal
route, for naval base rights on the Gulf
of Forseca and for two islands on the
east coast of Nicaragua.
The Nicaraguan treaty was negotiated
by Secretary Knox. in the Taft admin
and approved by MIR. Bryan,
who added to it the Platt amendment in
fore" with Cuba. This meeting with op
position from Democrats in the Senate.
h" Withdrew il from the treaty and press
ed for its ratification in its original form.
Most of the opposition to the Nicara
guam treaty has come from Democratic
hut one or two Republican
are also opposed to il. 1t is
charged by the opposition that the gov
rrnm"nt of Nicaragua does not represent
the peOplc of that country, and would
were it not for the presence of
american marines in Nicaragua. It is
also asserted on behalf of Costa Rica,
Salvador and Honduras that the Nicara-
guam treaty ignores their rights in the
NiCara guam Canal route and in regard
to the Bay Of Fonseca.
Haitian Treaty Important.
Tn" Haitian treaty. signed last week.
: r'=a rdcd in admnistra ton quarters as
IGite the most important step taken by
his government in the region of the
'aribbean in many years. 1t Is the out
growth OF the turbulent situation in the
legro republic which last July caused the
andinE of American marines and blue
Jackets in Haiti, who have since prac-
ically taken over the administration OF the |
'ntire country. The treaty gives the Uni |
ed States government a large measure |
# control over the finances and policing |
# Haiti. and Is regarded as n guarantee |
hat the regime OF successive revolutions |
5 permanently ended.
Manv of the Presidents friends believe |
hat he will have a measurably better |
hanc" for procuring the ratification OF !
he Colombian treaty at the next session /!
f the Senate than at the last. 1t is ;
'ointed out by them that the treaty Is /
designed not only to wipe out the i'll
ceiling of Colombia toward the United |
tatcs. but that it is expected to have a
wholesome effect upon the attitude of all |
he Latin-American countries toward the
United States. II has been held that the
rsnicinn of Latin Americans az rern rdS |