Evening journal., 1896-12-24
The PEACE Treaty..
New Arbitration Convention with Eng.
loud Ready For Approval.

New Arbitration Convention win Eng.
lood Ready For Approval.
WASHINGTON, Lee 28.-Thcrc is no lon.
ger any doubt that the general arbitrator
treaty between the United States arl
Great Britain is practically completed &c
the satisfaction of both governments and
that its presentation to congress may be
expected In the ncar future. Several minor
amendments have been suggested and ac
cepted from time to time during the prog.
ross Of the negotiations, but it is now con.
fidontly believed that tho clear copy which
was forwarded to Lord salisbury by Sir
Julian pauncefotc about a week ago will
at on receive the formal approval of the
British premier and lie returned to Wash
irgton in time TO be presented TO the SEN
ate for ratification immediately on the re-
assembling of congress after the holiday
recess, Jan. 3.
AS already outlined in these dispatches,
the life Of the treaty purposely is made
very short-only five years-but this is
with the expectation of q renewal for a
longer period il It shall prove to work
we'll and also to afford easy opportunity
for amendment. Its purpose Is 10 dispose
peaceably and honurably of such questions
as arise between the United States and
Great Britain and viii not admit of ad.
iustment by the ordinary methods Of
diplomacy, excluding questions involving
the national honor. Tie personnel Of the
arbitration commission is 20 be of the
highest character-mon selected from the
judiciary of each country I'm equal num-
bers. three from each side-and provision
is mado against a failure through a tie
vote by the bringing in f an umpire Nei-
= talt ion
ing sea issue are to 20 before this commits
sion. but its FIRST work probably would be
to close up the Alaskan b undary contro-
yersy and some other cpan issues Of minor
interest but real importance
Unlike the \ enezuelan boundary ar
rangement, this treaty must go TO our SEN
ate for ratification. and the house of rep
rosentatives also will have an opportunity
Indirectly TO pass upon it for legislation.
II will te necessary TO provide the means
to maintain the commission. The fate Of
the project in congress can only be conjec-
tured at present. Some fear Is expressed
that the issue made by secretary Olney
over the Cuban question may somewhat
ieopardize this crowning piece Of diploma
cy by melting criticism and tho display of
i'll feeling on the part Of some senators
who feel that their prerogatives have been
invaded.
1t is known also that other senators IA
vorable to the general pro ect OF arbitra-
tion have their own peculiar ideas about
means which they may attempt to carry
out by amendments to tho treaty If these
are Of small importance, they may be ac-
cepted by the executive and by the British
government, but the whole great project
of general arbitration treaty is one which
diplomatists feel must be entered upon
with the greatest caution. The agreement
so far has rcen Effected with such difficulty
that any consider bic departure from the
scheme by proposed amerdments probably
would lead TO failure of the treaty and
thus give a formidable setback to the
whole movement