Evening star., 1921-03-20
SECRET DISCUSSION
OF TREATIES PASSES
Senators Predict That None of Importance
Ever Will Be Considered Behind
Closed Doors.

from the world war that President
Harding may negotiate and send to
the Senate-if he does take such a
course - will be considered in the
open. After the precedent set in
dealing with the treaty OF Versailles
and the covenant Of the league Of ma
tions. any attempt to deal with
substitute proposal behind closed
doors would cause an uproar not only
in the Senate. but throughout the
country.
Practice OF the senate.
1t is rather interesting to consider
in this connection the course fol-
lowed by the Senate in dealing with
other important treaties that have
come before it. The treaty of Yer.
| sailles was the first treaty OF great
Importance with foreign nations tina,
was ever considered in the open Sen.
ate. And, incidentally, this treaty oc-
cupied far more time of the Senate
than any other pact that has been
brought before it.
When the United States made peace
with Spain in 1899. the treaty was
considered behind closed doors. 1t is
| true that there was discussion In the
Senate while the doors were open
regarding the disposition of the Phil
ippine Islands and what the status
Of the Filipinos should be. But the
| treaty itself was discussed and rati-
fled in secret. That treaty was con.
| cluded at Paris December 10. 1898. IL
submitted m ha t.,
! 4. 1899. and the Senate advised rati-
| fcation," as the phrase goes. Febru-
ary 6, or just about a month after 1.
| was received. The injunction Of Sc
crecy as to the text of the treaty
| was lifted January IL, so that the
| country knew what the pact was
practically at the beginning of it's
I, consideration by the Senate.
The treaty of peace following the
| war with Mexico was concluded Feb
! ruary 2, 1s4S, and was ratified b.
| the Senate March 10 Of the same year.
| showing quick action.
After the war of '1S12 with Great
/ Britain peace was made through q
pact negotiated at Client, and since
known as the treaty of Client. Tha.
treaty was concluded December "a.
| 1914, and it was ratified by the Sen
ate February Is. 1915. Which was
quick work. considering the slower
means of communication with Eu-
rope in those days. Following the
war of the revolution. peace was
made by action of the Continental
Congress, since the Constitution had
not then been adopted. and the mat
ter of dealing with foreign nations
left to the President and the Senate.
Senatorial Prediction.
| With the opening of the doors of
the Senate during the debate OF the
| Versailles treaty, new era in the
procedure of the Senate relating TO
foreign affairs seems to nave arrived.
1t is freely predicted by senators that
| never again will treaty of great
| Importance to this country be con-
sidered behind closed doors.
Senator Borah OF Idaho. member
of the foreign relations committee
and a strong advocate OF dealing
with foreign relations in the open,
reason for closing the doors upon the
discussion of foreign relations
though there might be a lew IN
stances arise which would make IL
advisable to have the discussion Sc
cret. He pointed out that in the
consideration Of the Versailles treaty
tho discussion had been wide, that II
had been free and open. and without
| result of imperiling the friendly reia-
tions of this country with other ma
tions. The principal reason aoVahceo
nv advocates of discussing treaties
in secret has been that the open dis
cussion Of international relations
might result in intlaming the puoiic
of this or another country, resulting
- difticuIties between the United
states and other nations.
Decrease In Secrecy.
Secrecy in governmental aHairs mas
decreased greatly in recent years
Formerly practically all of the COM
mittee meetings of the Senate anu
House were behind closed DOORS even
including hearings. Now tine tendency
is to open the doors, even when COM
mittees are dealing with legislation
in hand. The nominations sent to the
Senate by the President are still con-
s;dered.in secret. But the reason for
such a course has been that charges
might be made against appointees
which would do them great injury II
merely given publicity, even though
the charges might not be SUI tained.
The force of this argument has SO
far prevented open consideration OK
nominations, though that procedure
has its advocates in the Senate today.