Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1897-01-14
GREAT BRlTIAN's AND UNITED
STATES AGREEMENT.
ARBITRATION BEFORE ARMS
Sec. olney and Sir Julian Pauncefote
Atfix Their Signatures to the Instru-
ment--Then II Is Taken to Cleve-
land and Later Sent to the Sem
ate.

Julian Pauncefote on the part OF
Great Britain, yesterday affixed their
signatures to new treaty by which
for a term OF five years, the two Eng
| disappearing nations agree to abide
in peace and without resort to arms,
all possible questions of controversy
being referred to court of arbitration
! with the single exception that neither
nation surrenders its honor or dignity
TO the Judgment of arbitration.
Later in the day President Cleveland
sent the treaty and message, earnest
ly approved it, to the senate. The
treaty consists of twelve articles and
in print would fill about a newspaper
column. One of the last points TO be
decided was that King Oscar of Swed-
en- and Norway is to act as tinal arbi-
TRAITOR in case the others fail to agree
on the final member of the court.
The acceptance of the king and the
final agreement on that detail was not
cabled to Washington until late Sun
day night and even then one small
detail remained to receive the approval
of the British foreign office. AT 11:20
yesterday morning cablegram from
Salisbury removed this last question
and left the way clear for the formal
execution of the instrument. Immed-
lately on receiving the cable rom
Salisbury, Pouncefote proceeded to
the state department where he met
Sec. Olney. There were few formal
tiles, as the signatures were but the
elimination of negotiations covering
many weeks, during which complete
understanding was reached on every
phase of the subject. 1t was felt, how
ever, that the moment was an event
full one. The diplomatic bureau pre-
pared two copies of the document.
Having satisfied themselves that every
thing had been conducted in regular
order the principals proceeded to the
signature pf the duplicate treaties.
Pauncefote had the honor of signing
first. One document will be known as
the British copy and it will
never leave the possession of
that government The other copy
which Secretary O,Hey signed first win
remain in the possession of the United
States. After the senate has passed
upon ii the copy will be made the
original and this will be used in the
final exchange of notifications later on.
When the treaties were signed there
was an exchange of courtesies between
Secretary Olney and Pauncefote, each
expressing deep sense of qualification
that he labor which presented appar-
entity insurmountable obstacles had
been concluded in a way to give prom
Use Of far reaching results. Secretary
Olney took the signed treaty to the
white house for the preparation CT
President Cleyelands message trans
hitting it to the senate.
The twelve articles that constitute
the treaty deal with tine subjects which
are to be submitted to arbitration and
the manner in which the court Of ar
bitration Is to be constituted. The
language used in embracing the sub
jects before the court has been chosen
with the greatest care, the purpose be-
ing to make the terms so comprehen-
siye that no question can arise in or
binary dealings between the two gov
ernments which will cause resort 10
war. The article which makes an ex-
| aeption in the case -insult to national
honor-4has also been so carefully
framed that ordinary questions which
to some extent involve the nations
honor, could not be brought within It.
In short, the terms of the twelve ar
ticles are believed by Secretary Olney
and PauncefOte to cover every usual
contingency by which any difference
could arise between the United States
and Great Britain.
The selection OF King Oscar as f1nal
arbitrator adds another responsib iltty
to that monarch, as he mas been here
tofore chosen in connection with the
Venezuela boundary question, His
selection closed one Of the most trou-
blesome features OF the negotiations
There had been no difficulty in arrang-
ing that each country should be repre-
sented by three arbitrators or emil
1 nenoe in its judicial branch The
question then arose as TO how final
decision could be reached with the
court equally divided. To remove the
possibility Of deadlock it was de-
/ cided 10 have a final arbitrator who
could, in case OF tie, cast the con-
Guiding vote. This raised the further
/ question as 70 the nationality OF the
final arbitrator. II was felt that In
justice he could not be an American or
an Englishman while It was felt u es
equally DESTROYS that such a harmonic
Gus agreement between the two Eng
lish speaking nations should nor look
70 foreigner for It's final determine.
ton. Finally. however. rather than
open the possibility Of tie and a fail
ure Of arbitration King Oscar was
agreed upon III case the others did not
agree In choosing a final arbitrator
BIZ this means. not ONLY * arbitration
secured. but arbitration which viii ~
| effective and final
A period Of fire years was fixed n
the limit on the treaty ar means
observing the efficacy Of the arrange