PEACE TREATIES.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1172, 6 July 1911, Page 5

PEACE TREATIES.

» AMERICA AND GERMANY. INCLUSION IN TREATY SYSTEM EXPECTED. THE PRINCIPLES EXPLAINED. Uj TeleEraph—l'rcsa Association—Oouyrletat Washington, July •). The Slate Department at Washington expects that Germany will join tho arbitration movement on the same terms as Britain. It is explained that Germany misunderstood the force proposed by the treaty with Britain, and thought that if she accepted a similar treaty she would bo absolutely compelled to accept, arbitration, while tho United States Congress, ou tho other hand, was free to accept or reject it. Mr. Knox, Secretary of State, now points out that any given issue shall not go to actual arbitration until after tho two Governments ha<l mado an exchange of Notes. Objection could be taken at this stage by Germany or America; if so, tho proposed arbitration would bo abandoned. MR. TAFT EULOGISED, SPEECH BY SIR JOSEPH WARD. (Rec. July G, 1 a.m.) London, July 5. Sir Joseph Ward and Sir John l'indlay, Attorney-General for New Zealand, attended the Independence Day banquet at the Savoy Restaurant. Sir Joseph Ward proposed the health of Mr. Taft, and said ho considered tho President the embodiment of the American nation's best traits. Ho praised Mr. Taft's vigour, industry, self-reliance, and his lovo of the Union, of peace, and of the British people, and his simplicity of life. He had shown consummate skill in launching his world proposal for a peace treaty between the great English-speaking peoples.

The American Ambassador, Mr. Whitelaw lieid, in responding to the toast of his own health, proposed that of Mr. John Hays Hammond, the United States special envoy to tho Coronation.. He also eulogised tho main results of Mr. Taft's policy.

Mr. Hammond, in responding, declared that ill*. Taft's dearest hope was the solution of the supreme problem of universal peace.

AMERICAN GENERAL TREATY. ■ The draft of a general Arbitration .treaty was drawn up by the State Department at Washington in May last. It is not distinctively an Anglo-American treaty, but a tentative draft of a general instrument to servo as a basis of negotiations with Powers desirous of entering upon terms of full arbitration with tho United States.

Copies have been sent to tho "British and French Ambassadors because their countries have expressed such a desire. The main features of tho draft are: Questions of "national honour and vital interests" no longer excepted from the scope of arbitration.

But a distinction is drawn between disputes "internationally judicable" and otherwises. The Monroe Doctrino possibly would come under tho latter category. "Internationally judicable," or ordinary disputes, will go in the regular way to arbitration.

Differences' "not internationally judicable"—in tho old wording, disputes concerning honour or vital interests—will go before a Joint Commission of Inquiry. Should this Commission recommend arbitration. this decision will be binding, but a special agreement defining (he disputo will have to be ratified by the Senate.

But arbitration is-olways to bo tile last resort. Even in ordinary disputes efforts

will be made to avoid the necessity of the. final appeal by referring the matter to a Commission of Inquiry, whose deliberations will coincide with diplomatic endeavours to reach a settlement.