New Britain herald., 1916-01-06
CONGRESS MAY BALk
 PAN-AMER|CAN PLAN
Lansing Proposes Binding Twenty Republics for Republican Govt.

1 Washington, Jan 6.-The treaty 1 which Secretary Lansing has proposed l to the twenty republics of the Western ] Hemisphere provides:
 1. For an agreement to guarantee 1 the territorial integrity of the coun 1 tries of this hemisphere. 2. For an agreement to maintain a republican form of Government Would Bind Republics. In addition to these two important items the proposed convention, as al- 1 ready explained, would bind the republics of the hemisphere to submit disputes including boundary troubles l except contr oversies affecting the in- dependence of the countries, to settle ment by diplomacy, arbitration or by Investigating committee.
 The treaty also includes a general agreement that exportations of arms will be prohibited except to the legally constituted Governments and that ] neutrality laws will be adopted against the operation of flibustering expedi- tions.
 Congress is Interested. Members of congress have express
 cd considerable interest in MT. Lan sings effort to eliminate the bound sry disputes as possible sources of trouble in South and Central America
 snd they have been inclined also to
 view with favor his attempt to bring about a general understanding, which would prevent the shipment of arms and ammunition to revolutionary ia ctions in Latin Am erican countries. They have felt that much good might be accomplished from a treaty covering these points.
 More Information Wanted. The disclosure that Secretary Lan- sings proposed treaty goes beyond an arrangement of this character and contemplates a mutual guarantee of
 territorial integrity and an agree ment to maintain a republican form of government, has led to a desire for more complete information as to the administration purposes before members of congress are willing to subscribe to the entire proposal. Tn fact it is already apparent that MT. Lansing will encounter stubborn opposition in the Senate to the two
 latter proposals.
 Heavy Burden on United States. As viewed by many mem bers of congress these two prospects would
 throw a heavy burden upon the United States in addition to that which it is already carrying in main taining the Monroe Doctrine.
 Any viola ation by one country of the territorial integrity of another would lead to complications in which the
 United States a party to the gen oral treaty would be involved and in which, as the strongest nation, would
 have to take the leading part. In other words the treaty apparently would force the United States. if the convention was to be maintained, to step in and prevent any war of con- quest.
 Trouble Breeder for United States.
 The provision in the proposed treaty which provides for the maintenance of a republican form of government, also is believed by many members of congress to be a trouble breeder for the United States.
 The chief objection voiced, how ever, is against committing the United States in advance to a policy which the future may show to be very en- tarrassing, especially in connection with the interests of this government in the neighb orhood of the Panama Canal.
 The new treaty proposed by Secre- tary Lansing gives expression to his ideea already publicly voiced that the republics of the Western Hemisphere should stand together in the enforce ment of that doctrine. The treaty which Secretary Lansing now proposes will, he believes, make for peace and friendship among the American re- publics and by so doing promote the policy of "onc for all and all for one," as against any attempts at European aggression.
 Not an Alliance.
 The treaty that is proposed is mot an alliance, but in many respects it resembles such a relationship.
 Many in Washington doubt whether there is any likelihood of such a treaty being drawn and ratified by all the American republics. The general impression is that the Administration has made this move to demonstrate impressively the good faith of Ameri- ! can officials. who have said that the ! United States does not seek any ter | 1itorial aggrandizement
 Suspicion on the part of the Latin 1 American countries as to the inten- | tions and ambitions of the United l States in the way of territorial expan- l sion southward has been the greatest ! handicap to the relations of this gov | rnment with the South and Central l American countries This action os | Secretary Lansing in proposing this | treaty, even though it never should | be negotiated or ratified, will have a favorable effect on Latin American sentiment