Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-01-11
One Between Venezuela and Great
Britain.
BETWEEN ENGLAND AND rHSCOUNTRY
The Achievement Considered the
Greatest in Recent Years.
W o R K OF WO MEN

The last step, aside from the ratification
OF the treaty by the congress of Venezuela
necessary to give effect to the Venezuelan
arbitration agreement between the United
States and Great Britain has been COM
pleted by the formal assent of King Oscar
of Sweden to the clause of the arbitration
convention which makes him the final arbi-
ter in case the other members of the
tribunal are unable to agree. The congress
| of Venezuela meets in February, and, while
there have been some objections raised in
Venezuela to the arrangement for a settle
| ment of the long standing boundary dis
pute, 1t is understood that these objections
are not potent enough to prevent ratiiica-
| ton Of the agreement in the face of its
strong Endorsement by President Crespo
| and the members of his cabinet. The final
settlement of this dispute, which at one
| time threatened seriously to interrupt the
amicable relations between the United
States and Great Britain. will be nailed
with satisfaction, both in this country and
in Great Britain.
One Result of Intervention.
The Intervention of the United States to
adjust the dispute has had one result not
| foreseen nor contemplated at the time.
| viz, the drawing closer together of the two
| great representatives of the English speak
| ing races. AS result of the mutual under
| standing effected in consequence of their
negotiations over Venezuela the United
States and Great Britain at this time prob
| ably are more nearly in accord in their
| diplomatic relations than ever before in our
history, and it is confidently expected that
| the result will be an agreement on gen.
| eral' scheme of arbitration of all disputes
| between the two nations save those in
| which national honor is involved. 1t is
probable also that closely following the
a n he ont to ha
| Venezuelan boundary dispute there will be
| resumption of the diplomatic relations
| between Venezuela and Great Britain,
which have been severed for some years as
| the result of this dispute, and that the
United States will be the intermediary in
| bringing this about.
The selection of King Oscar as the final
arbter is regarded as a fortunate one be-
cause of the high regard i'm which he is held
| as a man of learning, calmness aud fair
ness.
4 General Arbitration Treaty.
The proposition for general arbitra ton
| treaty between the United States and Great
Britain is now an accomplished fact. Lord
| Salisbury has assented to the last sug-
| gestion from this side, and nothing now Ie-
| mains but the attachment of the formal
| signatures of Secretary Olncy and Sir Jul
| ian Pauncefote. the latter having been cloth
| ed with the necessary authority by Lord
Salisbury. OF course the treaty, unlike the
Venezuelan agreement, must be submit. ted
to the United States Senate for its approval,
and, in view of the short time remaining of
the present session of Congress, every eff
fort will be made to have 1t submitted to
that body this afternoon. the gen
eral scope of the treaty is substantially as
has been outlined in The Star While full
details are not yet obtainable it can be
stated that ample provision has been made
to guard against failure of the arbi-
traitors to agree through tie vote. Proper
rtcin hac hoo 10
reference of the matter to a leciding au-
thority. 1t was Secretary DIN, ys insist
ence upon the absolute necessity of guard
ing against tie vote which led TO a de-
lay in the final draft of the treaty after
all the other details had been adjusted to
the common satisfaction of the representa-
tives of the two nations.
The Final Arbiter.
1t is learned that King Oscar of Sweden
has been selected and will be named in
the general arbitration treaty as the final
arbiter in case of a tie vote by the arbitra-
ton tribunal on any matter. He either will
sit and hear the matter of dispute him
self Or will name a deputy, who will act
as the final arbiter. The treaty is to run
| for five years, and thus The Swedish king
for that length of time will be the final
umpire of all disputes between the two
great English-speaking nations. He will
act also as the final arbitrator in the Ven
| will come prominently before the world as
| the foremost representative of the set
| Element of national disputes by peace in
stead of force of arms.
Greatest Achievement in Years.
The contamination of these two agree
ments is considered III official and diplo-
matte circles as the greatest achievement
of recent years in the intercourse Of the
United States with foreign countries. The
two agreements cover subjects entirely sep
arate and distinct, although some misap-
prehenSion has arisen as to them owing to
the fact that each has arbitration as its
chief characteristic. The first agreement
relates only to the Venezuelan boundary
and creates court of arbitration to deter
mine the boundary line. OF this court King
Oscar II of Norway and Sweden is to be
the fifth or final arbitrator in case the 9TH
ers fail to agree on the fifth. The main i'm
poEtance of the agreement Is in closing the
irritation over the Venezuela boundary,
which at one time threatened to bring the
United States and Great Britain to con-
fiict of arms.
The second treaty, which is signed today,
has no reference to Venezuela, but is a
comprehensive agreement between Great
Britain and the United States to submit
all controversies which may arise within
the period CT the next five years to the
judgment OF a court of arbitration thus
doing away for that time with the posi-
biiity of a resort to arms between the coun-
tries, with the single limitation that ma
tional honor and dignity shall not be a SUBJ
ject of arbitration. The scope of the treaty
has been made very wide. the purpose be-
ing to have it cover all the subjects which
usually arise to disturb the relations be-
tween countries.
Details OF the Treaties.
AS a rule, the details of treaties are
shrouded in the greatest mystery, but In
this case The Star has been able to give
;,,fo
details of both of the agreements that it
is unnecessary to repeat them at length.
On November last it was announced that
King Oscar had been chosen as the fifth
arbitrator in the Venezuelan arbitration,
and all the other terms. including the vital
ffty.year clause, were given. On Decem-
Der 13 the completion of the general arbi-
tration treaty between Secretary Olney and
Sir Julian Pauncefote was announced, and
its terms given as follows:
First. A term of five years from the date
of the exchange of notifications within
which the treaty shall be operative.
Second. A court of arbitration of six
members, three 10 be drawn from the judic-
larry of Great Britain.