The Saint Paul globe., 1896-12-14
EAGLE WILL DWELL IN HAIR
MONY.
NEW ARBITRATION TREATY
Make IT'S SUCCESS GER
TAIN.
SUPREME JUDGES AS ARBITRAToRs
Bcrfng Sea and Venezuelan Cues
tiOn Excepted-It May Soon
Reach Congress.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 13.-The nego-
| tiations between the United States and
| Great Britain for a treaty of general
arbitration, covering all subjects of
| difference between the two English
speaking nations, present and prospec-
! tive, have advanced to a stage Of COM
! pleteness far beyond what the public
| has had reason to believe. The pur-
| pose of Secretary Olney and Sir Julian
Pauncefote is to conclude the 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:
First-A term of five years from the date
! of the exchange of ratification wi hin which
the treaty shall be operative
Second-A court of arbitration of six men,
oers, three to be drawn from the judiciary
| of the Uuited States and three from the Judi
| ciary of Great Britain.
Third-The submission to this tribunal of all
dliferences between the two nations, or to
arise within the period Of five years this
not to include the Bering sea question or
the venezuelan question, now before indie
pendent commissions, but to include the ques-
ton OF the boundary between Alaska and
British North America
The completion of this treaty will
mark an
IMPORTANT EPOCH
in the relations between the two Eng
disappearing nations, and in the iudg-
ment o. those who have been most
ldentlted with its consummation, it will
be the most important document of a
peaceful character in the history of
their mutual dealings. The president
made passing allusion to the subject in
his recent message. 1t had been under
stood, however, that the main purpose
or Mr.. Olney was to reach an agree
ment as to Venezuela, and that having
accomplished this, the larger question
of arbltrating all differences would re-
qulre considerable time for it's complete
development. But the negotiations have
preceded with surprising unanimity, so
that those engaged in the work con-
fidently believe that it will be fully
agreed upon and the signatures of the
contracting parties placed to the docu-
mentS within three weeks. This will
give fully two months for the consid-
Grafton and ratification Of the, treaty
at the present session of the United
States senate and unless some unex-
pected obstacle should arise in that
quarter, there is every reason to antici-
pate that the treaty may be made ef-
fectiVe before the close of the present
administration. At least, this is the
confident hope and expectation of those
most concerned in the negotiations.
Aside from the previously referred to
! points, it can be stated in 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
~
But those familiar with the exact
terms of the negotiations say that not
one of the causes of friction will re-
main. Some of them are withdrawn
from the operation of the treaty from
the fact that other methods of settle
ment already have been agreed upon.
This Is the case with the Venezuelan
question, which, by the recent agree
ment pertaining to that subject alone,
is committed to a special court of arbi-
tration. The Bering sea claims are
now before a commission created by
special treaty, so that this, too, will
not fall within the scope of the new
treaty Other questions have been sim
/ ilarly disposed of, and, considering
them all, it is said by those familiar
with them that the Alaskan boundary
will be the only pending controversy
likely to come within the scope of the
new treaty.
THE MAIN PURPOSE
of the treaty, however. is to guard
against future differences threatening
a rupture. and in this the negotiatOrS
believe that the terms of the instru-
ment will be such as to avoid all pos
sibility of international conflict for the
future.
This is regarded al the main achieve
ment. 1t is one said to be peculiarly
| advantageous to the commercial inter
ests of both countries, assuring them
against rumors Of war or the serious
prospect of war. AS one of those con-
cerned in the negotiations sums Up
the result When q serious difference
| arises between the two countries, in
stead OF public feeling that War may
result, and consequent unSettllng OF
| commercial interests, as occurred dur
ing the Venezuelan crisis, the public
will know beyond all possibility Of
rumor or report that the difference Is
! che which will be settled by arbitra-
ton instead of a possible resort TO
aims. This public sentiment against
alarm is felt to be no less beneficial
as one of the features assured by the
treaty than the plan of arbitration it
self.
The reasons for limiting the treaty
to five years are doubtless to place a
measure of this extent on fair trial
after which. if the results are as good
/ as anticipated, the treaty can be re-
| neWed or made permanent
! 1t is felt that the character OF the
men on such a court will remove Il
from the usual divisions based purely
upon the nationality of the arbitrator,
and, moreover, a majority vote of the
arbitrators will doubtless be acquired
AS yet it cannot be stated definitely
whether the treaty will cover differ
ences involving national honor and
sovereignty. This was a point of dis
agreement early in the negotiations. II
is probable, however, that an excep-
! ton will occur in this respect, as the
treaty is meant to cover the usual
and ordinary differences which arise
between nations, rather than such an
/ extraordinary event as an insult to
the flag. or any other national indig-
nifty, which are usually considered out
side the scope Of arbitra tions.
All the negotiations have been car
ried on in Washington, and the sign
| ing Of the instrument will occur here
Mr.. Olney and Sir Julian Pauncefote
have borne the brunt of the work
the latter executing the views of Lord
Salisbury in such a way as to expe,
dite the final arrangement Mr. Bay
ard has not taken part in the negotia-
ton, although indirectly he has con-
| tributed to the result.
GLARfNG TIMER FRAUDS