The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1896-12-18
MARKS AN EPOCH.
THE TREATY FOR GENERAL AR
BlTRATION OF DISPUTES

BlTRATiON OF DISPUTES
Now Being Negotiated Between This
Country and England an Event in
History-Expected to Be in Operation
Before the Close of This Administra-
tion.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 14-The negotia-
tions between the United States and
Great Britain for a treaty of general
arbitration, covering all subjects Of diff
ference between the two English
speaking nations, present and pros
pective, has advanced to a stage Of
completeness far beyond what the pub
lie has had reason to believe. The
purpose of Secretary Olney and Sir
Julian Pauncefote is to conclude nego-
tiations within the next three weeks.
All of the substantial features of the
treaty have been agreed on From the
present status of the negotiations, it is
believed the following will be the i'm.
portant terms of the treaty:
Features of the Treaty.
First-A term of five years from the
date of the exchange of ratification
within which the treaty shall be oper-
ative.
Second-A court of arbitration of six
members, three to be drawn from the
Judiciary of the United States and
three from the Judiciary Of Great
Britain.
Third-The submission to this tri-
bunal of all differences between the
two nations, Or to arise within the
period Of five years, this not to in
clude the Bering sea question Or the
Venezuela question, now before inde-
pendent commissions, but to include
the question of the boundary between
ALASKA and British North America
Document of Importance.
The completion of this treaty will
mark an important epoch in the rela-
tions between the two English h-speaking
nations, and in the Judgment of those
who have been most identified with it's
oonsummation it will be the most i'm
portant document Of peaceful char
acter in the history of their mutual
dealings. The president made passing
allusion to the subject in his recent
message 1t has been understood, how
ever, that the main purpose of Mr..
Olney was to reach an agreement as to
Venezuela, and that, having accom-
plished this, the larger question of
Arbitrating All Differences
would require considerable time for its
complete development. But the nego.
tiations have proceeded with surpris-
ing unaninity SO that those engaged in
the work confidently believe that it
will be fully agreed upon and the sig
natures of the contracting parties
placed to the documents within three
weeks This will give fully two
months for the consideration and rati-
ication Of the treaty at the present
session of the United States senate,
and unless some unexpected obstacle
should arise in that quarter there is
every reason to anticipate that the
treaty
May BE Made Effective
before the close of the present admins
tration. At least this is the confident
hope and expectation Of those most con-
cerned in the negotiations.
Aside from the previously referred to
points, it can be stated i'll a general
way that the terms of the treaty are
such as to ''clear the board" of all the
vexatious questions which have arisen
between the United States and Great
Britain. These have been numerous in
. recent years, and some of them have
threatened serious consequences.
Advantages of the Treaty.
The main purpose of the treaty is to
guard against future differences
threatening rupture and in this the
negotiators believe that the terms of
the instrument will be such as to avoid
all possibility Of international conflict
for the future. This is regarded as the
main achievement. 1t is one said to be
peculiarly advantageous to the COM
mercial interests of both countries, as
suring them against r,lmors of war or
the serious prospect of war. The
reasons for limiting the treaty to five
years are doubtless to place a measure
of this extent on fair trial.
| Centenar ans Terrible Fate.
| WASHINGTON, Dec. 15.-Mrs. Alice
| Thomas, a colored woman who is
known to- be over l02 years old, fell