The herald., 1896-12-24
THE VENEZUELAN QUESTION
Will Be Left to Commissions Already
Appointed
The First Issue Considered viii Be Alaskais
Boundary
The Life of the Treaty Is Made Short.
but It Is Fully Expected That
1t Will Be Re-
newed
Associated Press Special Wire

ASSOCldteQ FTcSS SDeClAl Wlk0
WASHINGTON, Dec. 23.-There is No
longer any doubt that the general arbi-
tration treaty between the United States
and Great Britain is practically com.
pleted to the satisfaction of both gov
ernments, and that it's presentation to
congress may be expected in the near
future. Several minor amendments have
been suggested and accepted from time
to time during the progress of the nego-
tiations. but 1t is now confidently be-
lieved the copy which was forwarded to
Lord Salisbury by Sir Julian Paunce-
fote about week ago, will at once re-
ceive the formal approval Of the British
premier and be returned to Washington
in time to be presented to the senate
for ratification Immediately on the re-
assembling of congress after the holi-
day recess. January 5.
AS already outlined exclusively in the
Associated Press dispatches, the life of
the treaty purposely is made very short
only five years-but this is with the
expectation of a renewal for a longer
period if it shall prove to work well and
also to afford easy opportunity for
peaceably and honorably of such ques-
tions as arise between the United States
and Great Britain and will not admit
of adjustment by the ordinary methods
of diplomacy, excluding questions In
volving the national honor.
The personnel of the arbitration COM
mittee is to be of the highest character
men selected from the judiciary of each
country in equal numbers. three from
each side-and provision is made against
a failure through tie vote by the bring
zuelan question nor the Bering sea is
sues are to go before this commission,
but it's first work probably will be to
close up the Alaskan boundary contro-
versy and some other open issues OF
minor interest. but of real Importance.
Unlike the Venezuelan boundary ar
rangemert. this treaty must go to our
senate for ratification. and the house
of representatives will also have an ~p-
portunity, indirectly, to pass Judgment
upon it, for legisla tion will be necessary
to provide the means to maintain the
commission. The fate of the project in
congress can only be conjectured at pres
ent. Some fear is expressed that the is
sue made by Secretary Olney over the
Cuban qustion may somwhat jeopardlize
this crowning piece of diplomacy by in
citing criticism and the display OF ILL
feeling on the part of some senator's.
who feel that their prerogatives have
been invaded. 1t is known also that
other senators. favorable to the project
of arbitration. have their own peculiar
ideas about means, which they may at
tempt to carry out by amendments to the
treaty. If these are of small Importance,
they may be accepted by the executive
and by the British government. but the
whole great project of general arbitra-
tion treaty is one which diplomatists
feel must be entered upon, with the great
est caution, and the agreement so far
effected has been achieved with such
difficulty that any considerable depart
ure from the scheme proposed by the
amendments probably would lead to the
failure of the treaty, and thus give a
formidable setback to the whole move
ment.