THE PEACE TREATIES.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1197, 4 August 1911, Page 5

THE PEACE TREATIES.

READY FOR SIGNATURE. tf j TelccrapU- Press ABsociation-CopyriKhl Washington, August 2. Arrangements for the Anglo-American arbitration treaty have been completed, Mr. Jtunes Bryce, British Ambassador, is on Ms way hero (o sign tho treaty on Britain's behalf. The French treaty will be dispatched to l'aris by special messenger. President Tuft expects to submit both treaties- in Congress before (ho session ends. MR. TAFT'S AIM. THE TREATY WITH FRANCE. The Paris "Matin" in May published an interesting mtsfago from its Washington correspondent, who said that "Mr. Taft strongly desires that the treaty of arbitration with France should be signed sufficiently early to enable it to be submitted to tho Senate for ratification at the eime timo as tho treaty, with Great Britain." The correspondent then went on to explain why Mr. Taft decided to give a wiiler scope to his initial project. "When Mr. Taft gave instructions for the drawing up of an arbitration project," lie says, "it was generally supposed that it would be worded so as to apply only to England." Such was, in fact, Mr. Taft's intention, But alter discussion it was felt that so arbitrary a selection of a single Power would not give the best results from tho international point of view. Mr. Taft accordingly changed his mind, and the project was drawn up so as to apply to all nations. "France wuuld he allowed the greatest latitude in regard to modifications in th« text of the treaty. All that Mr. Taft wants is to submit a draft treaty of arbitration of the utmost possible scope, while permit ting Jill the other nations to enter into the; arrangement." "It is fully recognised," the correspondent went on, "(hat the project as it stands and ns it has , been submitted to France and Great Britain, does not stipulate that arbitration shall he compujsory on all points; tho main characteristic of the treaty is plain; it tends simply to oblige the Powers engaged in a dispute to to an open and complete discus6ion of their differences before resolving to declare war."

"It is, however, considered by' nil American ftafesnuni tli.it the United could, sign in full security with France and' England a treaty submitting all questions, even those affectiur,' national honour, automatically to arbitration, tor in the opinion of (lie Government at Washington a war between the United States' and these two Powers is impossible. . . ..It would, therefore, have been possible to draw up the project so as to render arbitration compulsory in any event; but the United States would have acrreed to such on undorsl.findinf; only with Franco and Grtat Brihin." The project was, therefore, modified so thai ■it might embrace other Powers. The nlTev was not confined to the most friendly nations, but was mado to the whole world."