Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1897-01-14
NEW TREATY SIGNED
GREAT BRITIAN'S AND UNITED
STATES AGREEMENT.
BEFORE ARMS
Sec. Olney and Sir Julian Pauncefose
AffiX Their Signatures to the Instru
menJ-Then 1t Is Taken to Cleve
land and Later Sent to the Sen
ate.

menJ-Then 1t Is Taken to Cleve-
land and Later Sent to the Sen
ate.
Washington, Jan. 12.-Sec. Olney.
on behalf of the United States and Sir
Julian Pauncefote On the part OF
Great Britain, yesterday affixed their
signatures to a new treaty by which.
for term of five years, the two Eng
disappearing nations agree to abide
in peace and without resort 10 arms.
all possible questions of controversy
being referred to a 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 a message, earnest
ly approved it, to the senate. The
treaty consists of twelve articles and
in print would fill about newspaper
column. One Of the last points to be
decided was that King Oscar of Swed-
en- and Norway is to act as final arbi-
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 a cablegram from
Col; rl0,, Il
and left the way clear for the formal
execution of the instrument. Immed-
lately on receiving the cable from
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 a 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 of 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,ney signed first will
States. After the senate has passed
upon it the copy will be made the
original and this will be used in the
final exchange of Publications later on.
When the treaties were signed there
was an exchange of courtesies between
Secretary Olney and PauncefOte, each
expressing a deep sense of qualification
that he labor which presented appar-
emily iuSurmountable obstacles had
been concluded in way co give prom,
Use of far reaching results. Secretary
Olney took the signed treaty to the
white house for the preparation OF
president Cleveland's message trans
hitting it to the senate.
The twelve articles that constitute
the trea- y deal with the 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-
sive that 10 question can arise in Or
binary dealings between the TWO gov
ernments which will cause a resort 20
war. The article which makes an ex-
O5ption in the case-insult to national
honor-has also been so careful ly
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 final
arbitrator adds another responsibility
to that monarch as he has been here
tofore chosen in correction 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 arbitrator of emil
hence in it's judicial branch. The
question then arose as to how a final
decision could be reached with the
| court equally divided. To remove tha
possibility of a deadlock it was de-
cided to have a final arbitrator, who
could, in case of a tie, cast the con-
Guiding vote. This raised the further
question as to the nationality Of the
final arbitrator. 1t was felt that in
| justice he could not be an American or
an Englishman, while it was felt tt be
GUS agreement between the two Eng
| lish speaking nations should not look
| to a foreigner for its final determine
| ton. Finally, however, rather than
open the possibility of a tie and a fail
ure of arbitration King Oscar was
agreed upon in case the others did not
agree in choosing a final arbitrator
| BY this means, not only is arbitration
secured, but arbitration which will be
| effective and final.
| A period of five years was fixed a:
| the limit of the treaty as a means
observing the efficacy of the arrange
ment, the purpose being to make the
treaty permanent if the 1ve-year trial