Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-02-06
Agreement Supersedes Root
Treaty, Which Expires
February 27.
NATIONS LEGISLATORS
MUST GIVE RATIFICATION
Text Kept Confidential, but Docu-
ment Is Known to Aim at Out
lawing of War.

BY the Associated Press
The new arbitration treaty with
France was signed shortly after IL
o'clock today by Robert E. Olds, Under
secretary of State for the United States.
and Ambassador Paul Claudel for
France
Revision of peace treaties between the
two nations became an accomplished
fact with signature of the pact.
The treaty supersedes the Root ar
duration treaty which expires February
"a. 1t will become effective. however,
only upon ratification by the legislative
bodies OF the two governments and the
formal exchange of ratification copies.
President Coolidge sent the treaty to
the Senate soon after u was signed.
Text Is Confidential.
AS is customary, the text of the new
treaty Will remain confidential until it
Is made public by the Senate committee
on foreign relations In substance, how
ever, its terms already are we'll known,
hlcluolng "A general declaration in the
preamble against resort to war. coupled
with an expression of hope by the two
republics that day will soon come when
all nations will have abandoned war as
an instrument Of national policy.
ine binding commitments of the
treaty have to do entirely with arbitra-
tlon or disputes which 1t may not be
possible to settle by diplomatic means,
or through the conciliation machinery
set up by the Bryan Treaty. Under It.
the TWO governments pledge themselves
10 arbitraie any dispute not arising
from purely domestic questions in either
country. not affecting the interests of
a thlrd nation, and not involving the
Monroe Doctrine. This represents a
marked change from the language Of
the old Root Treaty. which reserved
from arbitration matters affecting the
vital interests or national honor Of each
country. To that extent. the new
treaty Is looked upon both here and In
Paris as strengthening the peace-pre-
serving machinery between the two
countries to material degree
Cancellation Necessary.
Another aspect Of the treaty Is that
1t inierlccks with the Bryan pact, under
which disputes OF any character, with
out exception. must be submitted to
conciliation for a period Of at least IL
months before either power may resort
TO war or warllke preparations.
Inc new treaty represents the first
change made In the Root treaties since
they were negotiated. 1t Is the purpose
OF the Washington Government to
model all existing arbitration treaties
with other powers as they approach
expiration. using the Franco American
covenant as guide. In most cases. 1t
Is expected that exactly the same
language win be employed to stand
ardize American peace undertakings.
although In some instances q variation
TO include specific Cancellation ma
cninery. where no paralleling Bryar,
treaty now exists, will be necessary.
Negotiations Unchanged.
Signature of the treaty leaves the
Briand-kellogg conversations over n
pact renouncing war unchanged. with
no present indications ms to what the
outcome may be. The Washington
Government was unwilling tu make n
treaty of this character with France
exclusively. or 10 accept the French
theory that only wars OF aggression
should be renounced and denounced
The Paris government. because of
other commitments. found itself unable
To accept the Kellogg counter proposal
citation OF war. to be Incorporated In
six~power treaty To be negotiated
under Franco American leadership.
First Treaty by United States.
The anniversary was not alone that
Of the first Franco American treaty on
February 6. l77B. with It's solemn decla-
ration that there shah be- firm, in
violable and universal peace. pnd true
and sincere friendship between the most
Christian king. his heirs and success
hor. and the United States of America. 4"
but also OF the first treaty OF any
character entered into by the American
Government II Is the anniversary Of
the first recognition by any power Of
American natlonal!sm as II had been
| asserted In the Declaration OF Inde-
pcndence on July 4. i776.
But the new treaty to be signed to-
day goes far beyond the assertions of
peace and friendship contained In that
original covenant with France II not
| only asserts that war between the two
nations Is unthinkable, but IL sets M
| new and strong machinery for the adj
| Iihtment by arbitration or Cancellation
of disputes between them which might
| otherwise lead to war.
Thai nTst treaty WAS born OF months.
almost years. Of struggle with ditticult
| ana SLOW communications II stands M
No. IN the treaty archives OF the State
| Department, II ainWly fading linen
fabric that bears the signature of Louis
| XVI. that hame ill-fnted French
| monarch whose head was to fall victim
| nf Nine tiuillotine, II II qtlll written.
| WIN perfection of penmanship that
| makes H. look almost like copper plate.
| ana H. outlines the agreements nf cota Rs
| merce and nmity that were to guide
| relations between the Two countries for
! The century aud IA half that have
elapsed. although HIS treaty was
ahroEetcd al the end of 20 yeafs.
Franklin Was Aigner.
The original copy. that signed by the
plrnipotnhtlhfies and which wan sue
| cehded by lhe exchange copies bearing
the ainnnniin of the E,ng and Ut the
| American Chief Executive. shows the
! arlfWfItLen names 1T BENJAMIN Frank
| in, filaa Drnne aud Arthur Lee tor the
United States aud Conrad Alexander
| Gerard. secretary Of the French Council
| II Islaie ana iatnr french Minister to
| tbs United States, IN behalf Of Francs
| tin3ide ehfh AiAnattife ls the imprint 0f
| The hignet ring of tho hiHnfr. tho WAX
| scala tied together with stlanda of light
bite Silk inhedded III them,
Curidlsly ennilgh. The signature of
! Franklin has II aigniiiranrn Winlly aside
| from The treaty aA compared tu the
| months That The sailing ships Ut i19H
'ank IA carry tanA and fpflh exchanges
| ihat led Ia ms hfal treaty, The new
| Franco AmrIlfaii pthts phDL Was com
| iItsteti and uietia ed for signature IN a
n'stier IT days. aiinast hours, en FAR AT