The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1933-02-23
Our Goyernr,,en
How It Operates
By William, Bruckart
TREATY NEGOTIATIONS

Dy a deep waterway Will be con-
structed connecting the Great Lakes
and the Atlantic ocean. 1t is a gil
gantic engineering project that is
contemplated; it has vast potential
tiles for our people and their COM
merce, and it will stand through the
years as 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
Capital city lies many ramifieations
and maneuvers. They are called
negotiations" at the end, and they
represent as well as any in history
the processes through which ma
tions must go in reaching agree
ment on the terms of a contract, for
a treaty, aftec all, is only a con-
tract. Treaty negotiations, however,
are not unlike swapping of horses
in the old days. 1t is a matter of
give and take, and each fellow looks
out for himself.
1t seldom takes as much time to
accomplish an understanding re
speeding treaty terms as has elapsed
since the deep waterway proposal
first was advanced more than fifty
years ago. Commercial interests
saw the need of it long before our
government could be interested in
the project. The same was true
among the Canadians, except that
they did not regard development of
the waterway as important until re-
cent years because their commerce
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 treaty under
which the channel could be con-
structed. There had to be a
treaty, of course, because the 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 to be built under
Its terms, were instituted almost
ten years ago. At that time, how
ever, some Of the statesmen at the
head of the Dominion government
were not friendly to the idea. There
was opposition as well among GER.
tain interests in this country. For
example, many Of the railroads serv-i
ing the northern half of the United
States and drawing traffic from the
regions around and west of the
Great Lakes are opposed to the
waterway for the very obvious rea-
son that they fear it will take away
some Of their traffic. And so it
goes. Opposition and support for
the plan may be found everywhere
In areas affected by it.
From this 1t is easily deduced
that considerable amount of pre-
liminaFy work had to be done to
acqgaint the peoples of the merit
of the project.
It has now been formally signed
because the ruling political group
in Canada believe it is practicable
and valuable, and the administra.
ton of our government has fostered
the idea throughout.
But the treaty is not yet opera.
tive. 1t has another stage to pass
here and another at Ottawa. While
its acceptance by the Dominion gov.
eminent is little more than a for
mality, ratification of the agree
ment by the senate of the United
States is another matter. The Con-
stitution provides for negotiation
of the treaty by the President, by
and with the advice and consent OF
the senate. So 1t has to take a
hurdle of some consequence before
IL 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
will send with il letter from the
secretary of state explaining the
benefits hoped to be derived. But
the senate win not be content with
that. II will turn the treaty over
to Its committee on foreign rela-
lions, and that group will hold hear.
ings to which 1t win invite spokes-
men for the various groups inter.
ested In Its ratification or rejection.
In addition, IL win invite the sec.
rotary of state and the American
minister TO Ottawa and experts who
participated 10 the actual writing
OF the document 10 come before Il
and tell what the treaty does. These
men probably win testify in private,
however. for IL must be remembered
/ that all international negotiations
are carried on largely in secrecy
II a majority Of the committee IA.
vor ratification, they win vote to
submit II to the senate with that
Recommendation, and eventually ac.
ton is had there. Tearing then only
the act Of notifying the ether gov.
eminent. to be performed
In outlining the course OF the wa.
terway treaty. hare attempted 70
picture ths usual processes. They
are much the same IN al treaties,
excepting those enaing war. With