The record-union., 1896-12-27
Arising Between This Government and
Great Britain.
Provides for the Appointment of Three
Permanent Judicial Officers as Ar
bitratOrs on All Matters i'm Dispute
Between the Two Countries Not
Involving Questions of National
Honor Which Cannot Otherwise be
Settled by Negotiations.

NEW YORK, Dec. pa Herald"
special from Washington says: Secre-
tary Olney and Sir Julian Pauncefote
have finally agreed upon a draft of a
treaty providing for general system
OF arbitration of disputes between the
United States and Great Britain. The
negotiations We're concluded during the
absence of the President on his recent
cunning trip. and although the latter
has not yet given his approval of the
agreement. there is little doubt that he
will do SO, and the proposed treaty will
be submitted to the Senate Immediately
after Congress reconVenes.
1t is stated that the proposed treaty is
drawn mainly upon the lines proposed
by Lord Salisbury IN April last, and
ii is therefore assumed that there Will
be no delay in securing the approval of
the British Premier. \ copy of the in
strument. as agreed upon by Secretary
Olney and Sir Julian Pauncefote. was
mailed to him about week ago, and
the British Embassy here is expecting
daily to hear of its acceptance.
Although we'll satisfied with the
terms of the agree ement, Administration
officers are not very sanguine of its rat
ification by the present Senate. will
doubtless be attacked, ostensibly on the
ground that undue concessions have
been made to Great Britain in the prep
aration of the treaty, but mainly for
partisan reasons.
With less than fiftv' days of the ses-
sion remaining, it viii require little op-
position to TIN 1w tie whole matter over
to the Mckinley Administration, and
this is what many of the Republicans
desire.
The proposed treaty, as agreed upon
contemplates, it is understood, the ap
pointment of three permanent judicial
officers as arbitrators on all matters in
dispute between the two countries not
involving questions Of national honor,
which. in the judgment of many, can
not be settled by negotiations.
Before entering on the work of arbi-
tration the arbitrators are to select an
umpire, by whom any question upon
which they disagree shall be decided
The determination of the arbitrators,
or if they disagree the decision of the
umpire. shall be the award upon the
matters considered.
In the event Of either Power protest.
ing that an award is erroneous in re-
spect to international law. the decision
of the arbitratOrs may be reviewed by
a court composed of three Judges of the
Supreme Court Of the United States and
an equal number of Great Britain. A
majority of four to two will be neces-
sary to make the determination of the
issue final
This has been one OF the main points
OF difference in the negotiations con-
Quoted between Secretary Olney and
Sir Julian Pauncefote. The latter orig
inally propos j that there should be a
majority Of five To one % make the de-
cision final SECRETARY Olney's counter
proposition was IN favor Of single ma
jority, and in the event of an equal di-
vision that three jurists should be
added To the court.
1t is said that they finally Compro-
missed on a majority vote Of four 10 one,
after an agreement had been reached
To- limit the life Of the treaty to five
years.