The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1897-06-23
FOR ARBITRATION.
President Mckinley Prepares tn Re-
vive the Peace Treaty.


vive the Peace Treaty.
Washington, June 2l.-President Nc
Kinley has determined to revive the
abandoned treaty of general arbitra-
ton between the United States and
Great Britain. He has already turned
his attention TO the subject, and un-
der the direction of Secretary Sherman
the matter has progressed to the ex-
tent that new treaty already has
been drafted to serve as the basis of ne
gotiations expected TO result in the sub
mission of n convention TO the senate
10 replace that which was negotiated
by Secretary Olney, only TO fail in the
early hours of the present session.
The president always has been an
advocate of the settlement of interna-
tional disputes by arbitration, and,
though disappointed in the reception
accorded the original treaty, he never
has abandoned hope of being able TO
present the advantages of arbitration
TO the senate in such light as would
make it acceptable to thut body. In
the draft which is to be used as the basis
of negotiations there are none of the
Objectionable points which caused the
failure of the Olney treaty. Just how
this could be arranged without sacri-
iicing the vital principles of arbitra
ton cannot now be disclosed, but the
parties to the work feel confident they
have succeeded in doing so. 1t is not
in contemplation that the treaty will
be submitted TO the senate before next
December. There is felt to he no ur-
gency, and official intimation has been
given that as far as possible the present
special session of congress would be de-
voted TO the tariff.
There is reason to believe that the at
titude of the senate toward a new treaty
will be fully canvassed and understood
before the treaty is signed. The expert
ence over the last treaty led the parties
to it to conclude that the document
itself amounted TO little without an as
surance in advance that it would be
likely TO meet with favorable considera-
ton in the senate. For that reason
there will be no disposition to affiX sig
natures TO new treaty until at least
reasonable assurances are given that
two-thirds majority of the upper branch
Of congress stands ready to ratify the in
strument.
1t is understood that the initiative in
the present case will be taken by this
government. The failure of the former
treaty by the action of the senate left
the subject in such q condition that the
British government did not feel dis
posed TO renew negotiations unless first
invited by the United States. Under
these circumstances the subject would
have lapsed had not officials at Wash
ington, who were deeply impressed
with the far-reaching character of an
alliance between the two English-speak-
ing people, taken up the question where
the senate left it, and set about devising
means to overcome the objections of the
senate.
The first steps were of an informal
character, and there has been an abb
sence of the usual formalities of diplo-
matte negotiation, the desire being to
effect results with the least possible
formality.
The main objections which the senate
found to the former treaty were those
naming King Oscar, of Norway-Sweden,
as fifth arbitrator; the inclusion of
questions of national policy, such as the
Monroe doctrine and the construction
of the Nicaragua canal; the exclusion
of the senate from passing upon each
specific subject of arbitration, and the
fixed tenure of the arbitrator.
The rejected arbitration treaty was
drawn in the week preceding Christmas,
1896, was signed January II, 1897, and
defeated in the senate February 20,
1897.