River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1897-01-14
ARBITRATION TREATY.
A Plan Adopted by Great Britain
and the United States.
3igned by Secretary of state OIney and
Sir Julian Pauncefote-King Oscar
of sweden viii Act as Final
Arbitrator.

Washington, Jan. 12.-The Anglo
American general arbitration treaty
was signed in the diplomatic parlor of
the state department at 20 minutes
past IL by Secretary 0lney and Sir
Julian Pauncefote. The latter was ac-
companied by Lord Cough, secretary of
embassy. The American witnesses
were Chief of the Diplomatic Bureau
Cridler and Private Secretary Bland
ford. The meeting was devoid of any
spectacular proceedings. the two pleni-
-potentiaries simply signing their names
to the two copies of the important doc
ument. one of which will be sent TO the
senate for ratification and the other to
Lord Salisbury by special messenger,
who viii sail on the Majestic from New
York on "Wednesday.
Copies of the signed treaty were pre-
pared at the department of state for the
action of congress and sent TO the capt.
toll before adjournment of either the
house or senate.
Message of the President.
Washington, Jan. 12.-The president
sent the following message to the SEN
nte Monday afternoon, transmitting
the Anglo-American general arbitra-
ton treaty:
ITO the Senate: transmit herewith a
treaty for the arbitration of all matters In
difference between the United States and
Great Britain. The provisions of the treaty
are the result of long and patient deIibera-
ton and represent concessions made by
each party for the sake of agreement upon
the general scheme. Though the result
reached may not meet the views of the adj
vocates of immediate. unlimited and ire
vocabie arbitration OF all International con-
troversies. Ii Is nevertheless confidently
believed that the treaty cannot fail to be
everywhere recognized as making long
step In the right direction and as embody-
irg practical working plan by which dis
pute between the two countries will reach
a peaceful adjustment as matter of course
and in ordinary routine. IN the initiation
OF such an important movement II must be
expected that some OF its features will
assume tentative character looking to a
further advance, and yet IL is apparent
THAI the treaty which has been formulated
not only makes war between the parties to
It a remote possibility. but precludes those
fears and rumors OF war which of them
selves too often assume the proportions OF
a national disaster.
'1t is emInently fitting as well as fortu-
nate that the attempt to achieve results
so beneficent should be initiated by kindred
peoples, speaking the same tongue and
Joined together by all the ties of common
traditions, common Institutions and COM
mon aspirations. The experiment of sub
shutting civilized methods for brute force
as the means of settling international ques-
lions OF right viii thus be tried under the
happiest auspices. Its success ought not
to be doubtful, and the fact that its ulti-
mate ensuing benefits are not likely to be
limited to the two countries Immediately
concerned should cause II to be promoted
all arl a n a m N Of
and the lesson furnished by the successful
operation of this treaty are sure To DC
felt and taken to heart sooner or later by
other nations. and will thus mark the be-
ginning of new epoch In civilization.
Profoundly impressed as l am, there
fore by the promise or transcendent good
which this treaty affords. do not hesitate
to accompany It's transmission with an ex-
preston of my earnest hope that II may
commend itself TO the favorable considera-
ton of the senate.
GROVER CLEVELAND"
King Oscar Final Arbitrator.
1t is learned that hing oscar, oil
Sweden, has been selected and will be
named in the general arbitration treaty
as the final arbiter in case of tie vote
by the arbitration tribunal on any mat
ter. He either will sit or hear the matter
in dispute himself. or will name {
The treaty is to run for five years, an6
thus the Swedish king. for that length
of time, will be the final umpire of all
disputes between the two great English
speaking nations.
The last step, aside from ratification
of the treaty by the congress of Vene'
zuela, ne cessary to give effect to the
Venezuelan arbitration agreement be
tween the United States and Great
Britain has been completed by the
formal assent of King Oscar, of Sweden
to the clause of the arbitration conven
ton which makes him the final arbitra
tor in case the other members of tn,
tribunal are unable to agree. The con
gress of Venezuela will meet in Feb
ruary, and while there has been some
obie, ions raised in Venezuela to the ar
rangement for a settlement, il is under
st GOD that these objections are not pc
tent enough to prevent ratification OF
the agreement in the face of its strong
Endorsement by President Crespo and
the members of his cabinet.
Provisions of tn Treaty.
The treaty as draw and agreed to bJ
Mr.. Olney and Ambassador Pauncefotc
covers these points:
I. IT establishes a high court OF arhitra
ton. This commission is composed of thres
members of the supreme court of the
United States. to be chosen by this presi
dent, and of three members of the higt
court of appeals of Great Britain, TO o.
sected by the prime minister.
2 The treaty is to be operative for
period of five years from the date of the
exchange of ratitications
. The court OF arbitration shall have ex.
elusive Jurisdiction over all questions be
tween the two countries on which differ
ences are now pending or which may arise
during the life of the treaty, with the ex
ception of the Rehring sea question and ths
enezueian dispute.
a. No dispute involving national honor
o. sovereignty Is to be submitted to the
| arbitration commission.
The Alaska boundary and other
boundary questions not otherwise dis
posed of are to be included in the list OF
questions to be submitted for final ar
bitration. 1t is proposed that the tri
bunal shall also act as a claims com
mission.
The National Democracy.
Chicago, Jan. ll.-FOllowing Tho