Evening star., 1896-07-17
FOR ARBI T RATION N
Correspondence in Relation to Treaty Will
Great Britain.
Several boundary Questions to BE In
cluded-The Venezuelan Matter Not
Yet Fully Agreed To.

The correspondence between the Secrc-
tary of State and Lord Salisbury having
for its object the conclusion of a general
treaty of arbitration between the United
States and Great Britain will be made
public simultaneously In this city and in
London this evening. The terms of the
treaty have been under discussion at Lon
don and Washington for several weeks
past, and although rot finally concluded,
have reached stage where it is deemed
advisable to make them public.
The publication of the correspondence at
this time, even though 1t is not in a finished
state. is in conformity with the request of
Lord Salisbury, who was recently interro-
gated in parliament as to the attitude of
the British government in this matter. He
then said that he would shortly be in a
position to reply to the question. His plan
sc ems to be to give to parliament the terms
of all the articles of the treaty agreed 10
and 10 indicate the progress made toward
the approval of others.
For :he last few days Secretary Olney
ard Sir Julian Pauncefote have been fire.
quehtly in cor ference relative to the art:-
cles, and some existing differences of opin-
ion have been overcome.
The Most Important Feature.
The most important feature Of the corre-
spondence is that dealing with the propo-
sition Of the United States for the settle
ment by arbitration of the boundary dis
pute between Great Britain and Venezuela
This is not the only boundary question
which the commission, under the articles
of the proposed treaty, can consider 1t
may take into account the matter Of the
Alaskan boundary.
Another boundary question which the
arbitration commission may act upon is
rG2ln
OF the United States and the Dominion of
CaI ada In the great lakes at the approach
TO the narrow waters which connect them
Inc commission is authorized by the
proposed treaty to take up and determine g
any other boundary questions which may
come up or have arisen.. including, as
stated, the limits of Great Britain's pos
sessions adjoining Venezuela
The treaty now under consideration will
be far-reaching In it's effects. If ratified
by the Senate it will bind the United States
to submit TO arbitration all political differ
ences which arise between Great Britain
and the United States Iii the future, or SO
long as the convention is in force. Be-
tween countries situated as are the United
States and Great Britain serious differ
ices are bound to arise. In such cases as
the Venezuelan boundary dispute, for ex-
ample. war even is a possibility. The ar
ticles of the new convention will dispense
with the use OF arms as the arbiter of IS
sues which may arise hereafter. They
between the high contracting parties that
arise and involve grave political affairs
must be considered and decided ty arbitra-
ton mentioned in the treaty.
From the present outlook, certain details
of the draft relating to Venezuela will not
be completed for some days. as a full
agreement has rot been reached relative to
the scope of one of the articles, and as to
the composition Of the commission for the
formation Of which the treaty will provide
The main features of nearly all the articles
have, however. been approved by repre-
sentatives of the high contracting parties.
COmpositfOn of the Commission.
1t has been practically agreed that the
commission shall consist Of eleven mem
bers, five representing each country, with
one neutral member The Inclusion Of the
Venezuelan controversy in the terms of the
treaty is said to be the only question tina,
has thus far prevented a final agreement
by both parties. There is said to be nc
radical difference OF opinion on any Other
question.