The record-union., 1896-07-18
INTERNATIONAL
ARBITRATION.
Efforts Of the United States and Great
Britain to Agree Upon a Treaty
For the Amicable Settlement of All
Controversies.

Governments Made Public by the
State Department Show That But
Little Substantial Progress Has
Yet Been Made, Especially as Re-
CARDS the Venezuelan Boundary
Dispute.
WASHINGTON, July 1.-THE efforts
o. the United States and Great Britain
to agree upon a general arbltratlon
treaty for the settlement of all contfo-
versies through the esta bliShment OF a
permanent tribunal, as we'll as the dip
lomatic negotiations toward solving the
Venezuelan problem, are set forth IN
thirteen communications made pubic
by the State Department to-mght.
While they constitute the first authori-
tative disclosures upon these great ques-
tions since President Cleveland's famous
Christmastide message to Congress, 1t
will be found that previous reports of
the United Press of the negotiations be-
tween the two Governments have accu-
rateiy outlined the course of events.
Little substantial progress toward a
general arbitration treaty is disclosed
by the documents. An outline in part
of the proposed procedure is laid down,
and the views of the two Governments
are so explicitly stated that future dis
cussion may be confined toward mar
rowing the few Emergencies of method.
The further fact is made apparent that
the United States has taxed its vigilance
in demanding a just settlement of the
Venezuelan boundary question, and has
rejected the British proposals for arbi-
trating the dispute under terms involv-
ing the surrender of any part of Vene-
Zuela's claims.
The correspondence opens with let
ter from ambassador Bayard to Lord
Salisbury, dated February 2Ith last,
proposing an entrance forthwith upon
ne gotiations concerning the Guianan
boundary question at Washington be-
tween the British ambassador and the
Secretary of State. Mr. Bayard added
that Secretary Olney greatly desired
that there should be propounded clear
definition of the settlements" by indi-
viduals in the disputed territory, which
il was understood Great Britain wished
excluded from the proposed arbitration.
Lord Salisbury, in reply on March Sd.
said his Government readily concurred
in the suggestion, and sent instructions
to Sir Julian Pauncefote, directing him
TO discuss the question, with the Vene-
Zuelan representative, or the United
States acting as the friend of VeneZue-
IL. He had asked the Secretary of State
for the Colonies for the precise meaning
attached to the word settlements"
Lord Salisbury's instructions to Sir
Julian Pauncefote, dated March 9th,
form the third document, and are de-
voted to the system for general interna-
tional arbitration, negotiations for es-
tablishment of which had been ruptured
by Secretary Gresham's death
Lord Salisbury submitted draft of a
treaty for arbitration, which provides
that her Britannia majesty and the
President of the United States shall each
appoint two or more permanent judicial
officers for the purpose of the treaty,
and on the appearance of any difference
between the two powers, which. in the
judgment of either of them cannot be
settled by negotiation. each of them
shall designate one of the said officers as
arbitrator. and the two arbitrators shall
hear and determine any matter referred
to them in accordance with the treaty.
Before entering on such arbitration
the arbitrators shall select an umpire
by whom any question upon which they
disagree whether interlocutory or final,
shall be decided. The decision of such
an umpire upon any interlocutory queS-
tion shall be binding upon the arbi-
traitors The determination by the ar
bitrators, or if they disagree the decis-
ion of the umpire, shall be the award
upon the matters referred. All pecu-
MARY claims amounting TO not more
than f1O0. 900 for damages or indemnity,
all questions affecting diplomatic or
Consular privileges. alleged rights of
fishery, access, navigation or CONNER
cial privilege, and all questions referred
by special agreement between the two
parties. shall be referred to arbitration.
and the decision shall be final.
In cases of questions of fact or of
international law involving territory or
territorial rights, sovereignty, jurisdic-
tion of claims involving more than
800, 900. the decision of the Board Of
Arbitration shall be subject to review
within three months by a court COM
posed of three of the Judges Of the Su-
7reme Court of Great Britain and three
of the Judges of the Supreme Court of
the United States, and If this court shall
determine by majority of not less than
five to one on any issue, the award shall
be final. but in default Of such deter
mination ii shall not be valid. If no
protest is entered by either Power
against the award within the time linn
fted II shall he final
Any difference in the judgment of
either Power affecting its honor or the
integrity of its territory shall not be re-
ferred TO arbitration under the treaty
except by special agreement, but any
difference whatever by agreement be-
tween the two Powers may be referred
for decision by arbitration, with the stip-
ulations that unless accepted by both
Powers the decision shall not be valid.
In the instructions Sir Julian is told
that all matters in dispute cannot be re-
ferred to arbitration; that neither Gov
ernment is willing to accept arbitration
upon issues involving national honor or
integrity, but within this wide region
the United States desires to go fur
ther than Great Britain.
Secretary Olney, in reply April 1lth,
declares that Lord Salisbury's proposals
are welcomed with the keenest appre-
citation of their value and of the en-
lightened and progressive spirit which
nnimates them. But by the direction
of the President he proposes as substi-