The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-02-05
How the Treaty vac secured.


When it was announced that Lord Sails
bury had consented to negotiations for an
arbitration treaty between this country
and Great Britain much surprise was ex-
pressed because it had long been known
that he was opposed to all such treaties
and had treated those who had made eff
forts in the direction of a general ar
bitration treaty with slight courtesy.
1t is related in Washington letter to
the Herald how a change in his attitude
in respect to a general arbitration treaty
with this country was brought about
Just before the Jameson raid into the
Transvaal republic Great Britain was in
the midst of diplomatic embarrassments,
which, apparently were fun of danger.
Russia had made exceedingly advantage
GUS terms with both China and Japan and
Great Britain had been ignored Great
Britain had complications in CONSTANT
nople which made it practically impossible
for her to take an aggressive position.
France, having but recently formed an al
lance with Russia. was rejoicing at the
fact that Great Britain had been outwit-
ted in the settlements Russia had made
with China and Japan, and was snarling
at Great Britain's designs upon the Upper
Nile. About the only friend Great Britain
had in Europe was Italy, and Italy had all
she could do to attend TO the little war
she had on hand with Abyssinia And
Great Britain's relations with the United
States were threatened with rupture, be-
cause President Cleveland had just issued
his famous proclamation relating to the
Venezuelan boundary dispute. That proc
lamation caused war talk, but it speedily
brought settlement of the dispute which
had dragged along through a century.
1t was at this time that the jameson
raid into the Transvaal republic occurred
and Englishmeh hostile to the establish
ed government began to proclaim that
England hadn't a friend in all the world
| a statement which appeared to
have some foundation. The Emperor of
Germany, seeing the plight the English
| government was in, thought to win for
himself a little cheap glory by sending to
the president of the Transvaal republic
fulsome dispatch of congratulation, the
effect of which was to challenge Great
Britain's suzerainty of the Transvaal re-
public.
The nations of Europe noticed this chal-
lenge and waited with some anxiety to
see how Great Britain friendless as she
apparently was. would answer 1t.
They did not have to wait long.
Secretary olney wrote a communication
to the British government asking its good
offices in looking after the three Ameri-
| cans who had participated in the jane
son raid, and who were. prisoners of the
Transvaal government. This act showed
that the best of feeling existed between
the United States and Great Britain, and
while not technically an acknowledgment
of Great Brtains suzerainty of the
Transvaal republic It amounted to the
same thing. 1t was just what Great Brit
ain wanted. In the eyes of Europe it
practically settled Great Britain's relation
TO the Transvaal republic.
When later Secretary Oiney opened with
the British government the question of a
general treaty of arbitration he found a
willing listener in Lord Salisbury. The
Transvaal incident paved the way for the
treaty.