The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1896-07-18

iNh'H AhfANfNA hAAt - WV NaAl'AA7s
WASHINGTON, July 1S.-Thc corrcspon-
dcncc which has passed between the gov
ernments Of the United States and Great
Britain respecting the establishment of
general system of arbitration for the set
tlemcnt of any disputes which might arise
between the two countries, and also for
the settlement by arbitration Of the dis
pute over the Venezuelan boundary, has
been made public in the shape of an even
dozen letters which have been exchanged
this year between Secretary Olncy, Lord
Salisbury, Sir Julian Paunccfote and Am
bassador Bayard.
This correspondence is of great interest
rs marking "a sensible advance toward the
adoption by the two English speaking ma
tions of the principl6of arbitration as the
means of settling disputes between them
selves, but the persons who have looked
forward with hope and expectation TO the
speedy conclusion of treaties cmbodying
the arbitration principle for the settlement
of either or both of the two great open is
sues between the two nations are doomed
10 disappointment for at the date of oX-
change of the last note, one from Socre-
tary Olney to the British ambassador
here, dated within n month past, points of
the most vital nature in the case, not only
of the Venezuelan question specifically,
but of the general arbitration proposition
as well, were still the subject of discus
sion, without much expectation of any
early adjustment
Notable features of the correspondence
are the fact that whereas Mr. Bayard by
instruction of Secretary Oney, proposed
negotiations at Washington respecting the
NT,,,yyr,1.v, M
bury broadened it into a general arbiua-
ton scheme, following a lead set by the
late Secretary Gresham in the spring of
1895; that Secretary Olney later insisted
upon disassociating the two subjects, evi-
dently fearing an entangling alliance
otherwise that as to general arbitration
the issues which still prevent an agree
ment are the indisposition of the British
TO include territorial disputes, save with
the addition of provisions that in the es-
timation of Secretary Olney, will render
the attempt at arbitration nugatory be-
cause there are no means of making the
findings of the arbitrators binding upon
the parties, or of removing them from the
possibility Of infinite appeals
As to the Venezuelan matter specifically.
the difficulty that cannot be overcome is
the refusal of the British to subject to the
action of the arbitration the territory upon
which British subjects have actually set
tied. Imitation arbitration is what
Secretary Olney deSignateS Lord Sails
| burys project, while the British premier
crit ci2es secretary Olneys plan MS calcu'
| lated to result in evils worse than war in
| the institution of innumerable suits TO re-
/ cover claimed territory.
/ In the last letter of the series, dated
| June p, Secretary Olney says the vital
| difference between the two proposals Is
manifest. Under the British plan the
parties enter into arbitration and deter
mine afterwards, when they know the re-
suit, whether they will be bound or not
/ Under the United States proposal ths
parties enter into an arbitration, having
determined beforehand that they will be
bound. The latter is Il genuine arbitrl
tion; the former is a mere imitation. The
plan of Lord Salisbury is that all thl
forms and ceremonies of arbitration
should be gone through with, but witt
liberty for either party to reject the
award if not to its liking. 1t is respect
fully submitted that proceeding of that
sort must have tendency TO bring all
arbitration into contempt; that each party
to a dispute should decide to abide by an
award before entering into an arbitration
or should decide not to enter into it at all
and, once entering into it, should be ir
revocably bound.