ade certain changes in it, and
handed it to the Senate with a recommendation that it be accepted.
The changes made strike out the name of King Oscar of Sweden as umpire,
and narrow the work of the arbitrators down to dealing solely with matters
that concern Great Britain and the United States in their relations with
each other.
The idea is to make it impossible for England to interfere if we wish to
make a treaty with another country.
Some people think that if the treaty be ratified as first presented, we
will be compelled to ask the advice and permission of England in reference
to every treaty or similar arrangement we may want to make with other
countries.
It seems most important, among other things, that we should be free to
make the best terms for ourselves in the matter of the Nicaragua Canal,
and that we ought to be entirely free to settle all questions with our
Central and South American neighbors.
From what we hear, these alterations are not pleasing to the English
people.
_The Times_, the most important London newspaper, says that it is a pity
that the treaty has been so much changed that it is really of no value at
all. The paper goes on to say that if the treaty should not be ratified by
the Senate, the good work done on it will not have been wasted, for it
will have given a great lesson to the people of both countries, and indeed
to the whole world. The first step has been taken toward the beginning of
universal peace.
Meanwhile, the treaty is in the hands of the Senate, and may soon be
discussed.
* * * * *
News comes from Hamburg that the strike of the dock laborers is over.
The strikers have been beaten because of their lack of money.
In NO. 7 of THE GREAT ROUND WORLD you will find an
account of the strike, and if you will also refer to NO. 10, you
will see that it was thought that the strikers could not hold out very
much longer.
The money the strikers expected to receive from other labor unions to help
them was so slow in coming that the men and their families were in want,
and no man is likely to stand out for the benefit of others when his own
children are suffering from cold and hunger.
The men have gone back to their old employers and asked for work. The pity
of it all is, however, that during the strike others have been taken on in
their places, and the employers have now no work to give them.
After holding out since the end of October,
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