Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1896-11-14
IMPORTANT DOCUMENTS.
Treaties Made by Uncle Sam with
Foreign Countries.
The Negotiations Preceding the Rough
Draft Are Ceremonious and Long
Winded, Very often Consum-
Ing Many Years.
Especial Washington letter.

The newspapers have been filled with
speculations and inquiries concerning
the treaty obligations existing between
this country and Spain which stand in
the way of the recognition of the bel
ligerent rights of the insurgents. I'm
doubtedly the majority of our people
have earnestly sympathized with the
patriots there, and have desired this
government to interfere in the interest
of humanity and of patriotism.
President Cleveland has strictly OBJ
served the international law in such
cases, and has also complied with the
treaty agreements between the two
countries. According to the comfy OF
nations this country could not inter-
fere in Cuban affairs without ample
provocation, because the other civilized
nations of the world might have some
thing to say on the subject. The pow
ers of the nations are we'll balanced
and it is to the interest Of every nation
to prevent the extension of arbitrary
power. Upon this principle the Monroe
doctrine is based. No power in Europe
shall extend its possessions upon the
American continent without the con-
sent OF Une Unlteu SCatfS.
Treaties are necessities of modern
civilization. When an occasion arises
which requires an agreement between
the United States and any foreign
power, the minister or ambassador rep
resenting that nation at Washington
confers with our secretary of state,
under orders and directions from his
government. Immediately thereafter
letters are exchanged between the
diplomatic representatives of the two
governments, and everything is made
matter of record. Moreover, according
to diplomatic usage no typewriting or
printing is allowed, but all of the cor
respondence is carried on with pen and
ink.
After full correspondence, and COM
plete understanding, the foreign min
lister or ambassador calls upon the Sec
retary of state, and they two frame an
agreement which shall cover all of the
points in controversy. This is called a
rough draft, and copy of it is sent 20
the foreign country. Nothing is done
until the rough draft is returned; and
usually it contains amendments or
suggestions from the foreign govern
ment- If the secretary of state does
not agree to the proposed amendments,
the fact is communicated by mail; and
this matter of treaty correspondence
may go on for years before final agree
ment is reached. But usually within
few months agreements are reached,
and then the formal treaty is written.
There are always two copies of the
treaty, one for this government, and
one for the foreign government. The
copy retained by the United States con-
tains the treaty in double columns, the
first column being in English, and the
parallel column in the court language
of the foreign power A treaty between
the United States and Great Britain Is
written in only one column, because
both nations use the same language.
The court language of a majority of
the nations of the civilized world is
French, even autocratic Russia conced-
ing the universalty of the use of that
language in the diplomatic world.
A border of red lines carefully drawn
surrounds the writing of the treaty,
and the pages of the original copies are
bound together at the back with silk
ribbon representing the national colors.
The silk ribbon which binds the copy
retained by the United States bears the
red, white and blue colors of our ma
tional emblem.
Then comes the formality of signing
the treaty. The secretary of state signs