Birmingham state herald., 1897-01-12
UNCLE SAM AND JOHN BULL Bridge a ChaSm Which Seemed
 Wide and Deep. TEXT OF THE TREATY Which Was Officially Signed By the Govern ments' Representatives and Trans
 mitted to the Senate.

Washington, Jan. 1.-The general arbi- tration treaty between the United States and Great Britain, which has been the subject of negotiations between Secre- tary Olney and Sir Julian Pauncefote, was signed by both those gentlemen this afternoon.
 It was shortly after 12 o'clock today when the British ambassador reached the state department with Viscount Cough, one of his secretaries. He had earlier in the morning received final cablegram from Lord Salisbury authorizing the sig nature and had made an appointment with Secretary Olney for consummating the negotiations
 The secretary promptly met Sir Julian in the diplomatic room on his arrival, and the two plenipotentiareS immediately presented their credentials to each other.
 Secretary Olney signed as designated by the President, and Sir Julian Paunce- fote signed as designated by the queen on behalf of Great Britain.
 The formalities having been completed, the secretary and Sir Julian shook hands, congratulating each other, and the British representa- tive returned to the embassy, taking his copy of the document with him.
 The American copy was immediately sent to the executive mansion and de- livered to the President, who little later, sent it to the senate with a message ask ing for its ratification.
 The British copy, which was signed first by Sir Julian Pauncefote, and subse, quently by MT. Olney, and the United States copy, signed first by MT. Olney and then by Sir Julian Pauncefote, are known as the original copies and each govern ment permanently retains its own.
 After the senate shall have given its advice and consent to the ratification of the treaty it will be necessary to make an extract copy of our treaty assigned, and appended thereto the Presidents ratifica- tion. This is known as the exchange copy and will be delivered to the British gov ernment in exchange for similar copy received from it. the British ratification being signed by her majesty, the queen.
 After this has been done the proclama- tion of the President will be written in the original copy of our treaty, which was before the senate, and then the treaty becomes effective. The negotia- fions for the treaty signed today began nearly two years ago in the spring Of 1895 shortly before the death of Secre- tary Gresham, which abruptly terminat- ed further consideration of this question at the time. The suggestion was one in which Secretary Gresham was wrapped up and although his conferences with Sir Julian Paupcefote on the subject d1d not have a very definite point, the seeds were sown which grew rapidly under the impetus of the crisis in the Venezuelan dispute year ago when the Venezuelan commission was fairly launched upon Its investigation. Then on March 5, 1896, when diplomatic relations between this country and Great Britain were under high tension, Lord Sails bury sent Sir Julian Pauncefote an instruction to en- deavor to renew theasubject, transmit ting at the same time six heads Of pro- posed treaty for arbitration in certain cases, the obvious efforts being to offset, in part, at least, the firm refusal of Great Britain to consent to the arbitration Of fhe boundary question. The proposed scheme was to supplement diplomatic negotiations by a judicial termination of matters of fact disputed by the two governments, and while no binding award was contemplated, the proposal was expected to provide a method of dis posing of very many causes or friction which might arise between friendly na- , tions.
 \ It is provided that each country should Select two or more permanent judicial officers and when question arose each government should designate one of said officers as arbitrator
 Head two directed the arbitrators whenever they disagree to select an um- pire whose decision should be an award.
 Head three was HIS follows:
 .'tcomplain.s made hy the nationals of one power against the officers of the oth- CT; all pecuntary cssims or groups or claims amounting so not more than 100,- 0O0 pounds sterling. made oi either power by the nationals of the other. whether passed on alleged right by treaty or agree inent or otherwise; all clains for dam ages or indemnity under the said amounts. all questions affecting diplo- matic or consular privileges; all alleged rights of fishery, access. navigation or commercial privileges, and ali questions referred by special agreement between the two parties shall be referred to arbi- fration in accordance with this treaty and fhe award shall he f7nAi.n
 Under head four. differences Involving