The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1933-03-17

How 1t Operates
By William BrxekHs5
TREATY NEGOTIATIONS

that represents an agreement between
our government and that of our neigh
Dor on the north whereby a deep wa
terway viii be constructed connecting
the Great Lakes and the Atlantic
ocean. II is gigantic engineering
| project that is contemplated IL has
vast potendalities for our people and
their commerce, and IL will stand
| through the years as a monument TO
the genius Of two peoples who desire
TO see opportunities utilized for the
| good OF all.
But behind the formal signing of
that treaty which took place in the
Department OF State here in the Capt.
tai city lies many ramifcations and
maneuvers. They are called "negoti-
ations'' at the end, and they repre-
sent as well as any in history the
processes through which nations must
go in reaching agreement on the terms
Of contract, for treaty. after all,
Is only a contract Treaty negotia-
tons, however, are not unlike swap
ping of horses in the old days. II is
matter OF give and take, and each
fellow looks out for himself.
It seldom takes as much time TO &C
complish an understanding respecting
treaty terms as has elapsed since the
deep waterway proposal first was adj
vanced more than fifty years ago.
Commercial interests saw the need of
il long before our government could
be interested in the project. The
same was true among the Canadians,
except that they did not regard devel-
opment Of the waterway as important
| until recent years because their COM
merce began expanding later than
/ ours.
Yet through all of those years, two
peoples were slowly but surely moving
TO the point where their governments
could agree as TO what was necessary
in a treaty under which the channel
could be constructed. There had to
rights of each nation were involved
and each nation had to give up some
Of those rights when the contract was
made.
Active movements by our govern
ment, looking to the treaty and the
waterway project 70 be built under its
terms, were Instituted almost ten
years ago. At that time. however.
some of the statesmen at the head Of
the Dominion government were not
friendly TO the idea. There was oppo-
sition as well among certain interests
In this country. For example, many
OF the railroads serving the northern
half OF the United States and draw
ing traffic from the regions around
and west Of the Great Lakes are op-
posed TO the waterway for the very
obvious reason that they fear it will
take away some Of their traffic. And
so II goes. Opposition and support
for the plan may be found every
where in areas affected by il.
From this IL is easily deduced that
a considerable amount Of preliminary
work had TO be done TO acquaint the
peoples Of the merit Of the project.
II has now been formally signed be
cause the ruling political group in
Canada believe il is practicable and
valuable. and the administration Of
our government has fostered the idea
throughout
But the treaty is not yet operative.
II has another stage TO pass here and
another at Ottawa While its accept
ance BY the Dominion government Is
little more than a formality, ratifca-
ton Of the agreement by the senate
of the United States IS another mat
ter The Constitution provides for ne
gotiation of the treaty by the Presi-
dent, by and with the advice and con-
sent Of the senate So IL has TO take
a hurdle Of some consequence before II
becomes a binding agreement and one
that is fully operative.
When the President transmits the
st. Lawrence waterway treaty TO the
senate for its consideration. he win
send with II letter from the secre-
tary Of state explaining the benefits
hoped TO be derived. But the senate
viii not be content with that. II VIII
turn the treaty over to its committee
on foreign relations, and that group
viii hold hearings TO which II win In
vite Spokesman for the various groups
interested In its ratification or rejec-
ton. II win listen to both sides.
In addition, 1t viii invite the secre-
tary Of state and the American minis
ter TO Ottawa and experts who partici-
pated in the actual writing Of the doc
ument TO come before II and tell what
the treaty does. These men probably
viii testify in private, however, for II
must be remembered that all interna-
tional negotiations are carried on
largely In secrecy. That Is necessary
because II is frequently inadvisable
to make public the basis Of horse
swapping. Some people win think
their government gave too much and
they win complain
IF a majority of the committee IA
vcr ratification. they win vote to sub
nit II to the senate with that recon-
mendafion, and eventually action Is
had there, leaving then only the act
Of notifying the other government to
be performed.
In outlining the course OF the wa
terway treaty. I have attempted to
picture the usual processes. They are
much the same in al treaties. except
.ng those ending a war. With that
kind of a treaty. II Is unnecessary 20
deal for the victor dictates the terms
and the loser signs.
G. ls32. western NewspapG ONION
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