The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-01-13

r-1wers has beer invited by one or both
parties" II means absolute Immunity
from war unless one or other Of the IA
tions loses fts head an exceedingly
Improbable contingency.
The first article merely rsc,tes the
agreement 70 arbitrate all disputes not
settled by diplomacy. The treaty then
provides by twelve other articles the
means. dividing the possible causes OF
difference into classes
AL pecuniary claims or groups OF
claims not exceeding an aggregate OF
s5a0.eoo and which shah not involve
determination Of territorial claims. are 10
be decided BY an arbitration tribunal. 10
which each OF the high contracting par
ties shall nominate as arblter a turist Of
national rerute, and these two within two
months shall select an umpire IL they
fail m this the umpire slsaJ be appointed
by agreement between the members or
the suprens court and the judicial COM
rnittes OF the prfvy council OF Great Brit
ain. each nominating body acting by
majority. II they fan 10 agree within
three months. the umpire shah be select
ed by the king of Sweden. The umpire
shall preside over the tribunal and the
award Of the majority shall be final
All pecunlary claims exceeding s5oo.ooo
or disputes involving treaty rights but
not territorial claims. are TO be decided
by the tribunal IL unanimous. but IL not
unanimous the question may be submitted
TO . tribunal OF Ave fresh 3urists. 10 be
selected as before agreed. and the award
Of a majority TO be final
Territorial claims are TO be submitted
to a tribunal OF six. three of whom shall
be Judges of the supreme court of tho
United States or judges OF the circuit
court, nominated by the president Of the
United States, and the other three judges
of the British supreme court or members
of the Judicial committee OF the privy
council, nominated BY the queen. whose
award. BY a majority Of not less than
five TO one. shall be final, In case the
aware is made by less majority, IT shah
also be final, unless either power shall
within three months protest that the
award was erroneous. when Il shall be
invalid.
II the dispute involves any particular
state or territory the government may
appoint a judicial officer OF tbs state or
territory to DO one of the arbitrators.
and IL is provided that the tsrm terri
toriaI claims" shall include all other
claims involving questions of servituds
rights IN navigauons. fisheries and all
rights and interests necessary TO the con-
troll and enjoyment of the territory.
Each party is to be at Its own ex-
pense and the arbitrators shall deter
mine, IN finally disposing OF any matter.
whether all or any portion shall be re-
paid by the unsuccessful party.
The treaty is dignihed and bears the
impress of perfect good faith. The knowi-
edge that disputed questions are to b
thus finally disposed OF will be an In
oentive TO diplomats TO secure for them
selves the honor of dealing satisfactorily
with them, and the tribunal viii rarely
be resorted to. II win relegate an CUES
tions of mere fact dependent on testi-
rnony, such as boundary lines, to the rank
of q lawsuit, and with common sense on
the part of the people there need never
be war or the perturbation caused by ru-
mors OF war.