The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1897-01-06
ARBITRATION NOW
Completed to Satisfaction
of England and U. S.
Life is Purposely Short With Ex-
peCtation Of Renewal Soon
Made Public.

WASHINGTON D. c., Dec. %
There is no longer any doubt that the
general arbitration treaty between The
United States and Great Britain IS
practically completed TO the satisfac-
tion OF both Governments, and that its
presentation 10 Congress may be eX-
pected in the near future. Several
minor amendments have been suggest
ed and accepted from time TO time
during the progress of the negotiations,
but it is now confidently believed the
copy which was forwarded TO Lord
Salisbury by Sir Julian Pauncefote
about a week ago will at once receive
the formal approval of the British
Premier and be returned to Washing
ton in time to be presented TO the
Senate for ratification Immediately on
the reassembling of Congress after the
holiday recess, on January 9Th.
AS already outlined, the life of the
treaty purposely is made very short
only five years-but this is with the
expectation of a renewal for longer
period if ii shall prove to work we'll,
amendment Its purpose is to dispose
peaceably and honorably of such 1ues-
lions as arise between the United
States and Great Britain, and which
will not admit of adjustment by the
ordinary methods of diplomacy, eX-
Guiding questions involving the ma
tional honor. The personnel OF the
Arbitration Commission is to be or the
highest character-men selected from
the judiciary of each country in equal
numbers, three from each side-and
provision is made against failure
through a tie vote by the bringing in
of an umpire.
Neither the Venezuelan question nor
the Behring sea issue are to go before
this commission but its first work pro-
badly will be to close up the Alaskan
boundary controversy and some other
omen issues of minor interest but real
Importance.
Unlike the Venezuelan boundary ar
rangements, this treaty must go to our
Senate for ratification, and the House
of Representatives will also have an
opportunity, indirectly, to pass JudS-
ment upon it, for legislation will be
necessary to provide the means to
maintain the commission. The tate OF
the project in Congress can only be
conjectured at present. Some fear Is
expressed that the issue made by Sec
rotary Olney over the Cuban question
may somewhat jeopardize this crown
ing piece of diplomacy by melting crlti-
cism and the display of ill-feeling On
the part of some Senators who feel that
their perrogatives have been invaded.
1t is known also that other Senators
favorable to the general project OF ar
bitration have their own peculiar ideas,
which they may attempt to carry ort
by amendments to the treaty. II these
are of small Importance they may De
accepted by the Executive and by the
British Government, but the whole
great project of a general arbitration
treaty is one which diplomats feel must
be entered upon with the greatest eau
ton. and the agreement so far effected
has been achieved with some difficulty
that any considerable departure from
the scheme proposed by the amend
ments probably would lead to the fall
ure of the treaty and thus give for
midable setback to the whole move
ment.