The evening tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 189?-190?, 1896-12-24
Arbitration BetweenEngland
and United States in Sight
The Senate and House Will Pass
Upon the New Treaty.
Its Fate In Congress Can Only Be Conjectured
at This Amendments In Prospect.

Washington, Dec. 24.-There IL 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 its 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
negotiations, but 1t is now confidently
believed that the clear copy which was
forwarded to Lord Salisbury by Sir
Julian Pauncefote about a week ago will
at once receive 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 reassembling of congress after the
holiday recess, Jan. s.
AS already outlined. the life of the
treaty purposely Is made very short,
only five years but this Is with the ex-
pectation of a renewal for longer
period IL II shall prove to work well, and
also to afford easy opportunity for
amendment. Its purpose Is to dispose
peacefully and honorably OF such ques-
tions as arise between the United States
and Great Britain, and will admit of
adjustment by the ordinary methods Of
diplomacy. excluding questions involv"
ine the national honor
The personnel OF the arbitration COM
mission is to be Of the highest charac-
ter; men selected from the judiciary OF
each country in equal numbers, three
from each side. and provision is made
against failure through tie vote by
the bringing in Of an umpire. Neither
the Venezuelan question nor the Behring
sea issue are to go before this commits
sion, but its first work probably would
bes to close. up the Alaskan boundary
controversy and some other open issues
OF minor interest but real Importance.
Unlike the Venezuelan boundary ar
iangement. this treaty must go to our
senate for ratification, and the house Of
representatives also will have an op-
portunity indirectly to pass upon 1t, for
legislation Will be necessary to provide
the means to maintain the commission.
The fate Of the project in congress can
only be conjectured at present. Some
fear is expressed that the issue made
by Secretary Olney over the Cuban
question may somewhat jeopardize this
crowning piece Of diplomacy by in
creasing criticism and the display Of ILL.,
feeling on the part Of some senators,
who feel that their prerogatives have
been invaded
1t is known also that other senators
favorable TO the general project of arbi-
tratiOn have their own peculiar ideas
about means which they may attempt
to carry out by amendments to the
treaty. If these are Of small import
ance they may be accepted by the execu-
tive and by the British government, but
the whole great project Of a general
arbitration treaty is one which diplo-
mats feel must be entered upon with the
greatest caution and the agreement so
far effected with such difficulty thar
any considerable departure from the
scheme proposed by amendments prob
ably would lead to failure of the treaty
and thus give a formidable setback to
the whole movement