New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-07-17

subject OF the greatest present importance anu
which forms article OF the proposed treaty
there are four separate articles in the cohNeh
ton. These say in brief that hereafter when po
litCal differences arise between the pnl'cu
States and Great Britain the points IN con-
troveisy shall be referred TO Commission OF
Arbitration provided for In the u.aN a a-sn
kind and extent of questions which may arse
and which properly would fall under the cog
nizance of such Commission are srecihed: In,
Guided in the list Of subjects to ne SO reierleu
is the pending controversy relative 10 the Nenez-
uelan boundary.
OTHER BOUNDARY QUESTIONS.
This is not the only boundary question which
the Commissions under the articles OF the
treaty can consider. 1t may take into account
the matter of the Alaskan boundary. 1t VIII
be remem bered that in his last annual message
TO Congress the President said to the re-
naming section Of this boundary when f"4IoWs
the Hist meridian northWdrd from mount ~
Elias to the frozen ocean. the settlement III
which involves the physical location oil IN" me-
ridian mentioned that no conventional agree
ment had then been made. but that under the
circumstances il was eNp"dfent ana, lnoeeu' III
perative that tn" jurisdctional limits OF the re-
spective Governments in this new region he
speedily determined Great Britain at TINT
time proposed joint delimitation or the itist
meridian by an international commission or
experts This the President advised Congress
to authorize saying that 1t was Impossible 10
overlook the vital importance OF continuing tne
by further effective me assures looking 10 the eN-
act location Of the entire boundary line.
Another boundary question which the Com
mission may act upon is that relating 10 the re-
spectiye Jurisdiction OF the United States and the
Dominion OF Canada in the Great Lakes at the
approach to the narrow waters when connect
them. This subject the President also referred 10
in his message He said That the waters In ques-
ton were frequented by fishermen Of both ma
tionalities and owing to uncertainty and igno-
rance as to the true boundary. vexatious disputes
Cd nH hnQf - a
dian cruisers often occur. while any positive sell
tlement thereof by an accepted standard is not
easily to be reached He recommended as ne
cessity the appointment OF JOINT commission 10
determine the line in this quarter on a practical
basis by measured courses
The Commission is authorized by the treaty to
take UP and determine an; other boundary ques-
lions which may come up or have arisen includ-
ing rs stated the limits of Great Britain's pos
sessions adjoining Venezuela
MAKEUP OF THE COMMISSION.
The article of the treaty which has provoked
more serious discussion than any other perhaps
relates TO the constitution and composition Of
the Arbitration Commission When the formal
agreemer: reached that treaty of arbtra-
ton should be adopted Secretary Olney recon-
mende6 that there should he ter members five
to be citizens of the United States and five TO he
citizens of Great Britain He further suggested
that the Commissioners should be men of dis
tinction. gifted in law and general learning. and
men of recognized prominence. AS American
members OF the Commission he intimated that if
his views were approved he would recommend
the designation of the Chief Justice Of the Su-
preme Court and four Associate Justices. In
courteous way he proposed that Great Britain
should select five of her Juriss similarly distin-
guished for high character and great learning
1t appears that the suggestion that the Com
mission should consist OF ten members was not
favorably regarded by Lord Salisbury. His
ommendation that there should be odd
number of Commissioners. ard that if the United
States favored the selection OF five and England
agreed to name five others. these ten should nom
mate an eleventh associate. Thus far Secretary
Olney has not approved the recommendation OF
Lord Salisbury, and this is one Of the unsettled
features of the treaty.
Secretary Olney and Sir Julian Pauncefote
now discussing the propositions of the two re-
spective Governments. and IL is possible that a
final conclusion this point will be reached be-
fore the draft Of the treaty is made public. The
indications are that Mr. Oney will agree that
the Commission shall consist Of eleven members.
BAYARD ALMOST IGNORED.
1t is a noteworthy fact that In the course Of the
whole discussion relative to the terms Of the
vention which, stated. has covered several
weeks Ambassador Bayards services have been
called upon only once Even then he merely act
ed official messenger between Secretary
Oney and Lord Salisbury Neither his advice
nor recommendations have been asked for by Mr.
Oney. The negotiations have been carried on
through Sir Julian Pauncefote. When Secretary
Olney first proposed that arbitration treaty
should be adopted Mr. Bayard laid the commune
cation from the State Department on the subject
before the British Foreign Office. He then in
formed that Lord Salisbury would consider the
suggestion and probably approve it. Here ended
the American Ambassadors responsibilities.
II has long been suspected here that the pres
ent Secretary of State did not regard Mr.. Bayard
a. the right man in the right place. and his
course in the present case would seem TO give
warrant to the stories on that point which are in
| circulation. 1t Is certainly true that the nego-
tiations relative to the proposed treaty have
been carried on between the Secretary and Sir
| T,tlfn with NJ, aIt-fra
without his knowledge.
LORD SALIsBURYS MOTIVES FOR HASTE
Another point OF interest relates TO Lord Sal
| sburys haste in having made public without
| delay what has been accomplished in the way
of reaching final conclusions without waiting for
| a decision on some pending details His motives
| known here. 1t is supposed that the
| Opposition III Parliamen; has pressed the Gov
| ernmen. somewhat earnestly for reply to
| the recent inquiry calling for information as to
| the status Of the Venezuelan boundary dispute
When the Harrison incident arose the Gov
eminent was urged in the House of Commons to
! speak frankly To what had been done and
would he done Then MIR. Chamberlain said
that certain important negotiations were going
| on with the United States bearing the gen
eral subject Thes2 he said he hoycd soon 10
lay before the House of Commons London dis
patches have not since spoken of further in
Quiries PIT TO members of the British Govern
ment. 1t is presumed here that questions have
! been asked Of Lord Salisbury and his assistants
i'm the Foreign Office and that these have been
so pointed that Lord Salisbury deems II advisable
that some form of reply should he made at
early dan
1t now seems probable thai not later than
Monday possibly Saturday. the Opposition in
the British Parliament will formally learn that
this country and England nave agreed TO the
terms Of a treaty which. if ratified by the Sen
ate will make il obligatory upon the contract
ing parties to submit the Venezuelan boundary
dispute and all other serious political questions
which may arise hereafter to a Commission of
Arbitration.
TO PUBLISH THE CORRESPONDENCE
LETTERS OK ARBITRATION WITH ENGLAND TO
orr