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The Commoner
AUGUST, 1913
PEACE TREATY NUMBER ONE
The readers of The Commoner have been kept
Informed of the progress made by the peace plan
which; last April, by authority of the president,
the secretary of state presented to all the na
tions represented atWashington.
Twenty-five nations
1 Italy
2 Great Britain'
3 France
4 Brazil
5 Sweden
6 Norway -
7 Russia
8 Peru
9 Austria
1 0 Netherlands
11 Bolivia
12 Germany
13 Argentina
14 China
15 Dominican Republic
16 Guatemala
17 Haiti
18 Spain
19 Portugal 4
20 Belgium
21 Denmark
22 Chile
23 Cuba
24 Costa Rica
25 Salvador,
have accepted the principle. This represents
more than four-fifths of the population of the
world.
Salvador, thfc twenty-fifth to accept the prin
ciple, went further than the rest and. accepted
all the d''ails. Thus, she -vins the distinction of
being the first to join in the treaty with the
United States.
None of the other nations have made objec
tions to any of the details, but have them under
consideration. But for the fact that this is the
vacation season and most of the representatives
are away, it is probable that a number of other
nations would have before this come to an agree
ment with the United States as to the details.
However, the movement is now under way and
the first treaty, which may be considered as
presenting the views of the administration, is
set forth below. This government is willing to
agree to any reasonable change in details the
principle only is important. It will be sent to
all of the American embassies and legations
and the readers of The Commoner will be noti
fied as the nations severally come to an agree
ment. It is the belief of many that the treaty marks
a new era in peace negotiations and that the
principle embodied In the plan which the presi
dent has offered to all natipns, great and small,
will ultimately be accepted in treaties' which
other nations make with each other. Surely
war is made more remote in proportion as time
for investigation and deliberation can be se
cured. It will be next thing to impossible for
nations to engage ill war if they take a your
to think about it and look into the disputed
facts.
Text of the United States-Salvador Peace Treaty
The text of the United States-Salvador peace
treaty follows:
"The United States of America and tho Re
public of Salvador, being desirous of strengthen
ing the bonds of amity that bind them together
and also to advance tho cause of general peace,
have resolved to enter into a treaty for that
purpose and to that end have appointed as their
plenipotentiaries:
"The President of the United States, the Hon.
William Jennings Bryan, Secretary of State; and
the President of Salvador, Senor Don Federico
Mejia, Envoy Extraordinary and Ministor Pleni
potentiary of Salvador to the United States;
"Who, after having communicated to each
other their respective full powers, found to be in
proper form, have agreed upon the following
articles:
"Article I The high contracting parties agree
that all disputes between them, of every nature
. whatsoever, which diplomacy shall fail to ad
just, shall be submitted for investigation and
report to an International Commission, to be con
stituted in the manner prescribed in the next
succeeding article; and they agree not to de
clare war or begin hostilities during such in
vestigation and report.
"Article II The International Commission
shall be composed of five members, to be ap
pointed as follows: One member shall be choson
from each country, by the government thereof;
one member shall be chosen by each government
from some third country; the fifth member shall
be chosen by common agreement between the
two governments. The expenses of the com
mission shall be paid by tho two governments
in equal proportion.
"The International Commission shall be ap
pointed within four months after the exchange
of the ratifications of this treaty; and vacancies
shall bo filled according to tho mannor of tho
original nppointmont.
"Articlo 111 In caao t.o high contracting
parties shall hnvo failed to adjust a dlsputo by
diplomatic mothods, thoy shall at once rofor It
to tho International Commission for investiga
tion and report. Tho International Commis
sion may,.howovor, act upon Its own initiative,
and In such caso it shall notify both govern
ments and request tholr co-operation In tho In
vestigation. "Tho report of tho International Commission
shall bo completed within ono yoar after tho
date on which it shnll declare its investigation
to have begun, unless tho high contracting
parties shall extend tho tlmo by mutual ngroo
mont. Tho report shall bo preparod in tripli
cate; one copy shall bo presented to oach gov
ernment, and the third retained by tho commis
sion for its files.
"The high contracting parties rosorvo tho
right to act independently on tho subject matter
of the dlsputo aftor tho report of tho commis
sion shall have been submitted.
"Article IV Pending tho investigation and
report of the International Commission, tho
high contracting patties agree not to increase
their military or naval programs, unless danger
from a third power should compel such Increase,
in which case tho party feeling Itsolf menaced
shall confidentially communicate tho fact in
writing to tho other contracting party, whoro
upon tho latter shall also be released from its
obligation to maintain its military and naval
status quo.
"Article V Tho present treaty shall be rati
fied by tho President of tho United States of
America, by and with the . dvico and consont of
tho Senate thereof; and by tho President of tho
Republic of Salvador, with tho approval of tho
Congress toreof; and tho ratifications shall bo
exchanged as soon as possible. It shall tako
effect immediately after tho exchange of ratifi
cations, and shall continue in force for a period
of five years; and it shall thereafter remain in
force until twelve months aftor ono of tho high
contracting parties have given notlco to tho
other of an Intention to terminate it.
"In witness whereof tho respective plenipo
tentiaries have signed tho present treaty and
have affixed thereunto their seals.
"Done in Washington on the so enth day, of
August, in tho year of our Lord nineteen hun
fred and thirteen.
"WILLIAM JENNINGS BRYAN.
"FEDERICO MEJIA."
Reform Moves On
Tariff reform and currency reform are moving
on, slowly but steadily, and with certainty of
triumph. The tariff bill as It passed the house
was a splendid measure the best that the coun
try has seen since the war. It gives more relief
to the taxpayers than any previous democratic
measure would have given. This, however, is
only natural, because tariff bills, like other bills,
reflect public sentiment, and public sentiment
today is ready for a more radical reduction than
would have been possible thirty, twenty, or even
ten, years ago.
But the senate, instead of emasculating the
bill, as previous senates have done, has actually
improved it, and, as reported by the finance
committee, it is better than when it passed the
house. It is difficult to ovor-state the credit
which the democratic leaders of the senate de
servo for the manner in which differences have
been harmonized and the entire party brought
to the support of the bill. It is sure now that
on final passage not more than two democratic
senators will oppose the bill, and it will not be
surprising if, when the roil Is called, even the
.enators from Louisiana vote "aye" on the
theory that, taken as a whole, the bill will bring
more benefit to their constituents Vy the reduc
i ns made, than free sugar can do harm.
While the democrats of the senate and house
have done their duty manfully, the president
Reserves a large amount of credit for the firm
stand he has taken in favor of a reduction that
will be substantial and far-reaching in its effect.
The country is beginning to realize vrhat it means
to have a people's president a champion in tho
White House who has the courage to fight their
battles for them, and who knows not the word
"surrender."
The currency bill is not as far advanced as
the tariff bill, but it is steadily gaining ground.
The measure favored by the president is under
consideration in both houses and there is now
little doubt of its passage. In fact, it is likely
to have a larger majority in both houses than
the tariff bill. The tariff measure must rely
largely upon democratic votes for it3 success be
cause it is more purely a party issie; but party
lines u.e likely to be disregarded to some extent
in the vote upon the currency que&ticn; the bill
will gain more repu' licans than it loses demo
crats. Let the readers of The Commoner keep in
mind three things:
First The bill recognizes the sovereign right
of the government to issue money.
Second The bill provides that the people,
through their governmental agents, shall regu
late the issue of the currency provided for.
This glvca protection from a selfish use of the
regulating power.
Third The bill extends to state and national
banks alike the help which the federal govern
ment offers in ,imes of emergency.
If the details of the bill can be regarded as
foothills, these three provisions stand out like
mountain peaks. If the people can secure the
three advantages named above, they can afford
to accept any details that a majority of the sen
ate and house may write into the bill. A detail
can be changed when experience shows It to be
unwise, but a change in a fundamental principle
is more difficult. The more this bill is studied
tho more widespread will bo the feeling that
never since tho civil war have tho people in
general been so largely considered In tho fram
ing of a money measure.
And to the president must be tho thanks for
having thrown tho tremendous weight of his
Influence on the people's side. It Is probablo
that the fact that he is an eastern man has
enabled him to do more than a western or south
ern man could have done under tho same cir
cumstances. The Wall street crowd Is not able
to excite tho same fear of him that it has suc
cessfully endeavored to arouse against those who
live beyond the Alleghenles and south of tho
Potomac.
Let us rejoice that times, conditions and cir
cumstances are combining to strengthen tho
president In his fight and to offer new hopo to
those who have, for so many years, been com
bating the influence, open .and secret, of "jtho
money power
There are other questions which will demand
the president's attention when the regular ses
sion opens, for his work has just commenced,
but with two great victories to his credit, hia
prestige will be increased, and that prestige will
be used In the people's cause. W. T BRYAN.
In view of tho attempt of some of tho sensa
tional nt spapers to stir up war between tho
United States and any country with which it
has a diplomatic controversy, ono recalls tho wise
witticism of Mr. Dooley in discussing tho Spanish
war. Mr. Hennessey asked him: "Are you go
ing to the depot to tiee the soldiers off?" Mr.
Dooley replied: "When THOSE WHO GOT UP
the war ENLIST I will go to see them off."
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