Omaha daily bee., 1896-07-19
INTERNATIONAL IPBITRATfoN.

II tillhlOl ne SHlu lldl u CtltIHl SNS-
tenn of arbitration between the United
States and Great Britain is absolutely
certain to be created. but what was said
in the House of Lords by the marquis
of Salisbury gives Il hopeful aspect to
the matter. The British prime minister
did. indeed, urge that there are difficult
ties in the way of Il general system of
arbitration. but it does not appear from
his reported remarks that he regards
these us in~surmountablr. No one will
question the wisdom of Salisbury'S sug-
%gestion that in regard to obligatory ar
bitratiOn that it is Il matter of such
Importance that it is necessary to be
careful of every step, for 1t is to be
presumed that our government will be
no less cautious than the British gov
Clpmcnt in binding itself to Il system
OF obligatory arbitration.
The whole tone and spirit of the
British prime minister's remarks on this
subject must be regarded as reasSuring.
He stated that the British government
had not Quarrclcd with the disposition
of the United States to take up the
causes of South American republics and
even supplied an argument from the
course of England in justification OF
the position of this country. He eX-
lpTCSSed confidence in the Venezuelan
commission and said that when the real
facts We're aScertaincd in regard to the
controversy he felt that the diplomatic
question to follow would not be very
difficult of adjustment and whatever
difficulties there were would be over
cCmc by arbitration. This is obviously
IL quite different spirit from that mani
Tested by the marquis of Salisbury
when he first gave consideration to this
Question. Then the suggestion of arbi-
tration seemed to irritate him and he
showed no disposition 10 tolerate it. II
we are not mistaken Il communication
from our government relating to the
arbitration of the Venezuelan contro-
ycrSy, when presented to the marquis
of Salisbury by our ambassador, pro
duccd such an effect upon the former
that he acted in Il way almost disre-
Spectful 70 the United States govern
ment. But however this may be. it is
evident thai the feelings of the British
prime ministee' as to this matter have
underground change ana it is Il change
which is hn-tle interest Of more friendly
relations between the great English
speaking nations.
In regard to the correspondence of the
two governments relative to Il general
system of arbitration, it shows that
there has really been substantial prog
ress made. though this is not so great
Us to assure the successful carrying out
of the plan. The draft of Il treaty has
Ibpen submitted to the consideration OF
the two governments and this at least
CGrstiutcS Il basis for negotiations from
which il may be hoped II satisfactory
result will be reached. In the light of
what is disclosed by the statement of
the marquis OF Salisbury and the cor
~rrspondcncp between the two govern
mentS. the people of both England and
The United States are warranted in con-
Guiding that the Venezuelan controversy
Will be settled amicably and ~honorably
ard thai having been done danger of
any serious disturbance of friendly re
~lutions between this country and Eng
land will he extremely remote. Intel
iigent and calm consideration has pro
dured the desired result and there is
every reason to believe that the future
relations of the two nations will he
more friendly than they have ever been.