The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1897-01-12
FOR PERMANENT PEACE.
The Arbitration Treaty with Great
Britain Signed.
PRESIDENT oLIVELAND's MESSAGE
Hs Declares That 1.-THE Experiment Of SUBJ
stituting Civilized Methods for Brute
Force VIII be Tried Under the Happiest
Auspices"

Auspices"
WASHINGTON, Jan. 12.--Secretary Olney,
In behalf of the United States, and Sir
Julian Pauneefots, on, the part Of Great
Britain, yesterday affixed their signatures
so n new treaty by which for term OF
five years the two English speaking ma
tions agree to abide In peace and without
q resort to arms, all possible questions of
controversy being referred to court of
arbitration, with the single exception that
neither nation surrenders its honor or
dignity to the judgment Of arbitration.
Later in the day President Cleveland sent
the treaty, and message earnestly ap-
proving it, to the senate The message Is
in part as follows:
'Though the result reached may not
meet the views of the advocates OF immedi-
ate, unlimited and irrevocable arbitration
of all international controversies 1t is new
ertheless confidently believed that the
treaty cannot fail to be everywhere reoog.
nized as max ing long step in the right
direction, and as embodying q practical,
working plan by which disputes between
the two countries will reach peaceful ad-
justment as matter Of course and in ordi-
nary routine.
ut Is apparent that the treaty which
has been formulated not only makes war
between the parties to 1t q remote possi-
bility, but precludes those fears and ru-
mors Of war which Of themselves too often
assume the proportions Of national dis
aster.
'It is eminently fitting as well as for
tunate that the attempt to accomplish re-
suits so benefcent should be initiated by
kindred people, speaking the same tongue
and joined together by all the ties Of COM
mon traditions, common institutions anu
common aspirations. The experiment Of
substituting civilized methods for brute
force as the means of settling international
questions of right will thus be tried under
the happiest auspices Its success ought
not to be doubtful"
The treaty consists of twelve articles,
and in print would fill about one news.
paper column. One of the last points to
be decided was that King Oscar II of
Sweden and Norway is to act as the final
arbitrator in case the others fail to agree
on the final member of the court. Tho
acceptance OF the king and the final agree
ment on that detail was not cabled to
Washington until late Sunday night, and
even then one small detail remained to
receive the approval of the British foreign
office Yesterday n cablegram from Lord
Salisbury removed this last question and
left the way clear for the formal execution
of the instrument.
The twelve articles constituting the
treaty deal with the subjects which are to
be submitted to arbitration and the man
ner In which the court Of arbitration is to
be constituted. The language used in en-
bracing subjects before the court has been
chosen with the greatest care, the purpose
being to make the terms so comprehensive
that no question can arise in the ordinary
dealings between the two governments
which will cause a resort to war. The arti.
Gle which makes an exception in the case OF
an insult TO the national honor also was So
carefully framed that ordinary questions
which to some extent involves o nations
honor could not be brought within 1t.
The period Of five years was fixed as the
limit Of the treaty as means of observing
| the efficacy of the arrangement, the pur'
| pose being to make the treaty permanent
| Il the five year trial brings the good re-
suits plated.