The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1897-02-10
MAKING OF A TREATY
THE FIVE STAGES IN THE lNTERNA.
TloNAL TRANSACTION.
How the United States Makes "A Conyen.
ton With Foreign Nation Arbitration
Compact IL the Decentralization nv
Our Senate and British Privy Council.


Our Senate and British Privy Council.
There appears TO be general misun- |
derstanding as to the steps necessary To
make a treaty entered into by the repre-
sentatives of two governments fully |
binding and effective upon the people Of |
the countries concerned. That such is
the case has been demonstrated by the
wide divergence Of views expressed in
the recent general discussion in newspa-
pers, in public gatherings and even in
the senate of the United States Of the
Anglo-American treaty of arbitration
recently signed in Washington. 1t is
generally understood, of course, that
this convention, although signed by the
properly accredited representatives of
Great Britain and the United States. is
still subject to the ratification of the
superior powers of each government,
but the subsequent course of procedure
of the respective governments necessary
to make it an accomplished fact is by
no means so well known
In conversation with several officials
Of the state department Star reporter
obtained some interesting data on this
point. According to the constitution
and the laws of the United States,
treaty of this kind is not operative until
it has gone through five formal stages.
These i'll their order are, first, signing by
the representative of the president; Sec
ond, ratification advised by the senate;
third, ratification by the president;
fourth exchange of notifications, and,
fifth, proclamation of the treaty. AS is
well known, the arbitration treaty has
as yet passed through only the first
stage and is in the throes of its second
stage Inasmuch as it has already Sc
cured the full Endorsement of the presi-
dent, az evidenced by the signature of
his representative, there is no room for
doubt as to the nature Of the action that
would follow i'll the last three stages,
| provided the senate should advise and
| consent to its ratification.
In the case of the British government
the modus operandi is somewhat SINH
lar, with the most important exception
| that the entire proceedings are practi-
cally within the discretion and control
Of the queen. All that remains to be
done by the British government TO make
the treaty operative i'll British domin-
ions is for its ratification by the queen
on the recommendation of the most
} honorable privy council and its subse-
uuent proclamation. Although treaties
are not subject to the ratification OF the
British parliament, it is customary TO
lay synopses of them before the legisla-
tive branch for its information, colncl-
dent with their ratification by the queen
Sin council. " The members of the prigy
council are appointed by the prime min
lister, with the approval Of the queen.
Consequently the dominant political
party is in control, and its action is
practically controlled by the premier OF
the administration, at present Lord Sal
isbury. who, having entered into the
arbitration treaty with the United
States, may be safely counted on to Sc
cure its approval ut home. The present
privy council numbers about 70 persons
and includes nearly all the leading OIL
Gals of the United Kingdom. Its mem
bersbip embraces the Prince of Wales
and all the male members of the roya
family, the lord high chancellor and al
the cabinet officers, the lord prcsiden
and the leading members of parliament
the archbishop of Canterbury and many
prominent churchmen and members o
the British diplomatic corps, Including
Sir Julian Pauncefote. The opposition
: is represented by large but powerles
delegation.
One of the officials of the state de
} partment described the modus operand
of a treaty for the benefit of the reporte
in the following terse form:
"Great Britain and the United State
conclude q treaty or convention for
specific purpose. 1t is signed IN dupll
cate These copies are the orlgina
treaties. In the British copy the Britisl
representative signs first, and in tn
United States copy the American repre-
sentative signs first. The British origi
nal copy is then sent to Great Britain
and laid before the privy council, whicl
passes upon it. If such action is favora
BILE. the queen ratifies the original copy
: An exchange copy is then made an
bears the queens ratification. The eS
change copy is copy OF the origina
l treaty bearing the queens ratification
"This copy is delivered to the repre-
! sentative of the government OF the Unl'
: ed States by the British representativ
! in exchange for a similar copy OF tn
: original convention in the possession {
the United States This exchange cop
: is ratified by the president OF the Unite
States. A protocol of exchange is signe
by the respective representatives VINE
the delivery of these exchange cope
. takes place. After this has been accom-
4 plished the president OF the Unite
: States and likewise the queen OF Oh
a United Kingdom, proclaims the origin'
a convention, when it becomes immed
] ately operative, or at future date az
: cording to its terms. And that's a
tbere is TO il. Washington Star.
I'll