Omaha daily bee., 1897-01-12
TREATY OF ARBITRATION
England and the United States Agree to
Live in Peace.
DOCUMENT DULY SIGNED AND SEALED
Secretary oIncy nnd Sir Julian
Pnunccfotc Attend 10 the De-
taiIs-Trenty TO lie in Force
for Five Years.


tniIs-Treuty 10 lie in Force
for Five Years.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 11.-Secretary Olney,
on behalf of the United States and Sir Julian
Pauncefote, on the part of Great Britain,
today affixed their signatures to a new
treaty by which, for a term of five years,
the two English speaking nations agree to.
abide in peace and without a resort to arms,
all possible questions of controversy being
referred to a court of arbitration, with the
single exception that neither nation surren-
ders its honor or dignity to the judgment
of the arbitration court. Later in the day
the president sent the treaty and a message
earnestly approving it to the senate.
The treaty consists of twelve articles, and
in print would fill about one newspaper col
umn. One of the last points to be decided
was that King Oscar of Sweden and Nor
way is to act as the arbitrator in case the
others fail to agree on the final member OF
the court. The acceptance of the king and
the final agreement on that detail was not
cabled to Washington until late Saturday,
and even then one small detail remained
At 11:2O this morning a cablegram from
Lord Salisbury removed the last objection
and left the way clear for the formal exc
cution of the instrument
linn sdiately on receiving the cable from
Lord Salisbury, Sir Julian Pauncefote, ac-
companied by Lord Cough, first secretary
of the embassy. proceeded to the state de
partment They were met in the secretary
private Office by Mr. Olney and his private
secretary, Mr.. Blandford, and Mr. Cridler,
who, as chief of the bureau of diplomatic
correspondence, has charge of the drafting
OF treaties. There were few formalities, as
the signatures were but the elimination of
n negotiation covering many weeks, during
which a complete understanding had been
reached on every phase of the subject. /,
wGS felt, however, that the moment was an
eventful one
The diplomatic bureau had prepared two
copies of the document. They were not in
any sense ornate. The articles of agree
ment were engrCssed in q fair hand on the
simple red-margined parchment paper ordi-
narily used for treaties by the state de-
DaFtmeut. These copies were laid upon the
secretary's desk, and then occurred a very
necessary formality. The British ambassa-
dor produced a formidable looking document
signed by Lord Salisbury, certifying that he
(thC ambGGGador) wGs authorized to sign for
the British government treaty bearing on
the subject specified Secretary Olney re-
piled by showing a letter from President
Cleveland, delegating to him authority to
sign the proposed convention. Having thus
satisfied themselves that everything was be-
ing conducted in a regular order the prin-
cpa s proceeded to the signs ture OF the dupli-
cate treaties.
PAUNCEFOTE SIGNS FIRST.
Sir Julian Pauncefote had the honor of
signing first. Secretary Olney handed him
the pen and he signed one copy in the rfrst'
place, Secretary olney Immediately placing
his signature after that Of the ambassador.
This will be known as the British copy and
it will never leave the possession of that
government Taking up the other copy,
Secretary Olney signed it first and Sir
Julian Pauncefote signed after him. This
is the United States copy, and likewise will
remain in the possession of our government.
After this has been passed upon a copy will
be made of our original and this will be
used in the final exchange of ratifications
later on. Then both of the copies were
sealed with red wax. Secretary Olney inn
pressed his private seal, a simple monogram,
"R o." and Sir Julian used his family
crest, lion, and then the ceremonies were
completed.
The pen used was a simple broad-pointed
steel stub in a red and black hard rubber
holder, but it will be treasured by the owner,
Mr. Blandford
Following this there was an exchange of
courtesies between Mr.. Olney and Sir Julian,
6acn expressing MS deep sense OF BFatlnCd-
tion that a labor which had presented ap-
parently insurmountable obstacles had been
concluded in a way to give promise of far
reaching results. The meeting was brief and
on the retirement Of Sir Julian and Lord
Cough Mr.. Olney at once took the signed
treaty to the white house for the preparation
of President Cleve.ands message transmit
ting it to the senate. 1t was understood dur
ing the morning that this transmission would
bs made al once in order that every eXecu-
tive function connected with the treaty
should be completed at the earliest possible
moment. Under these circumstances the
treaty and the presidents message were re-
ceived by the senate today.
TREATY OUTLINED.
Twelve articles constituting the treaty
deal with the subjects which are to be sub
mitted to arbitration and the manner in
which the court of arbitration is to be con-
Stituted The language used in embracing
subjects before the court has been chosen
with the greatest care, the purpose being
to make tho terms so comprehensive that no
question can arise in the ordinary dealings
between the governments which will cause
a resort to war. The article which makes
an exception in case of an insult to the ma
tiona hQlOr was aloO carefully framed
that ordinary questions which to some eX-
tent involve nations honor could not
be brought within 1t. In short the terms of
,
and Sir Julian to cover every usual con-
tlngency by which a difference could arise
between the United States and Great Britain.
Throughout the negotiations the desire OF
the secretary and the ambassador was to
make the language so broad that when a
controversy arose it would be accompanied
by the inevitable knowledge on both sides
OF the water that arbitration, not war, would
result.
The selection of King Oscar as final arbi-
traitor adds another responsibility to that
monarch. as he has heretofore been chosen
in connection with the Venezuelan boundary
question His selection closed one of the
most troublesome features of the negotia-
tions. There had been no difficulty In arrang
ing that each country should be represented
by three arbitrators of eminence in its judi
cial branches. The question then arose as to
how a final decision could be reached with
the court equally divided Lord Salisbury felt
that the distinguished character OF the men
constituting the court would assure free
dom from national prejudice. Mr.. Olney de-
sired to remove every possibility or dead
lock by having a final arbitrator who could
in case OF a tie cast the concluding vote,
This raised a further question as to the
nationality of the final arbitrator. II was
felt that I'm Justice he could not be an Amer
lean or an Eng!shman, while It was felt to
be equally deslrous that such an harmonious
agreement between the two English-speaklng
nations should not look to a foreigner for
it's final determination. Finally. however
rather than open the possibility Of tie and