The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1896-12-24
GENERAL ANGLo-AarERICAN ARBI-
TRATIoN AGREEMENT READY
FOR RATIFICATION.
SENT ON TO SALISBURY.
FINAL COPY OF THE DOCUMENT IN
THE BRITISH PRENIERs
HANDS.
POSSIBLE TROUBLE IN THE SENATE
Amendments May Be Tackled on
Which the English Government
Will Refuse to Accept.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 23.-There is
no longer any doubt, that the general
arbitration treaty between the United
States and Great Britain is practically
completed to the satisfaction of both
governments, and that its presentation
to congress may be expected in the
near future. Several minor amend
ments have been suggested and ac-
cepted, from time to time during the
progress of the negotiations, but it is
now confidently believed that the clear
copy, which was forwarded to Lord
Salisbury by Sir Julian Pauncefote
about week ago, will at once receive
the, formal approval Of the British
premier and be returned to Washing
ton in time to be presented to the SEN
ate for ratification Immediately on the
reassembling of congress after the
holiday recess, Jan. 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 reneWa |
for longer period if it shall prove to
work we'll, and also to afford easy op-
portunity for amendment. It's purpose
is to dispose peaeeab1y and honorably
of such questions as arise between the
United States and Great Britain that
will not admit of adjustment by the
ordinary means of diplomacy, exclud-
ing questions involving national hon
or. The personnel Of the arbitration
commission is to be of the highest
character;5 men selected from the judi
ciary of each country in equal NUM-
bers; three from each side, and pro-
vision is made against a failure
through g. tie vote, by the bringing in
of an umpire. Neither the Venezuelan
question nor the Bering sea issue are
to go before this commission, but it's
first work probably would be to close
up the Alaskan boundary controversy
and some other open issues of minor
interest, but real Importance.
Unlike the Venezuelan boundary ar
rangement, this treaty must go to our
senate for ratification and the house Of
representatives also, will have an op-
portunity indirectly to pass judgment
upon it, for legislation will be neces-
sary to provide the means to main
tain the commission. The fate of the
project in congress can only be con-
jectured at present. Some fear is ex-
pressed that the issue made by Secre-
tary Olney over the Cuban question
may somewhat jeopardize this crown
Ing piece OF diplomacy by incltlng~ cEit-
icism and the display of ilf-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
arbitration have their own peculiar
ideas about means, which they may
attempt 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 gov
ernment, but the whole project of a
general arbitration treaty is one which
diplomats feel must be entered upon
with the greatest caution, and the
agreement SO far effected has been
achieved with such difficulty that any
considerable departure from the
scheme proposed by amendments prob
ably would lead to failure of the
treaty, and thus give a formidable set
back to the whole movement