The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1897-01-27
ARBITRATION IS ASSURED
General Treaty Between the United
States and Great Britain Signed.
MESSAGE OF THE PRESIDENT.

Two Copies of the Treaty Signed by the
British Minister and Secretary Olney
1.-The American Copy Sent to the Presi-
dent and by Him Sent to tho Senate
for Ratification---It is for Five Years.
WASHINGTON. D. C. -(speciaD - secre.
tary of State Olney In behalf OF the
United States, and Sir Julian Pauncefote, on
| the part OF Great Britain, on Monday affixed
! for term OF five years the two English
| speaking Nations agree to abide in peace and
| without resort to arms, all possible ques-
tions Of controversy being referred to a.
court OF arbitration, with the single excep-
tion that neither Nation surrenders its honor
or dignity to the Judgment OF arbitration.
Later in the day President Cleveland sent
| the treaty and q message earnestly approx
ingit 10 the Senate.
Although the text OF the treaty is still an
official secret, enough has been divulged
from time to time about its main provisions
| to make the conditions OF the compact prac-
tically public property. 1t may be said TINT
the treaty lays down these general terms OF
arbitration: ...
First-A limit of five years from the date
OF the exchange Of rati1cations within which
the treaty shall be operative.
Second-A Court Of Arbitration Of six
members, three to be. drawn from the
Judiciary OF Great Britain.
Thirl-The submission to this Tribunal
OF all differences between the two Nations
now pendi - or to arise within the period
Of five years, this not to include the Berlng
Sea question or the Venezuelan question,
now before independent commissions, but to
include the question OF the boundary be-
tween Alaska and British North America.
King Oscar OF 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 and hear the mat
ter of dispute himself, or will name o
deputy, who will act as the final arbi-
ter. Thus for five years the Swedish King
will be the final umpire of all disputes be-
tween the two great English-speaking Ma
tions. He will act also in the Venezuelan
dispute, and in this dual capacity will coma
prominently before the world as the fore
most representative OF the settlement OF in
ternational disputes by peace instead OF BY
force OF arms
The treaty WIS delivered to the Senate at
8 o'clock. Afterward. in executive session,
It was referred to the Committee on Foreign
Relations, and without being read was Or
dered to be printed.
Senator Morcan suggested that the treaty
should be made public, but Senator Sher-
man. rs Chairman Of the Committee on For
eiSn Relations, replied that 1t should be ex-
amined by the committee to which 1t had
been referred before being published. This
suggestion was accepted, with the under
standing that the COMMITTEES should have the
privilege Of making the treaty known.
The President sent the following message
to the Senate, transmitting the Anglo-Amerl-
can general arbitration treaty:
ITO the Senate:
81 transmit herewith treaty for the arbi
tration of oil matters In difference between
the United States and Great Britain.
''The provisions OF the treaty are the re-
suit Of long and patient deliberatiOn, and
represent concessions made by each party
for the sake OF agreement upon the general
scheme.
Though the result reaohel may not
ate, unlimited and irrevocable arbitration Of
all International controversies. it is, never
theless, confidently believed that the treaty
cannot fail to be every where recog-
nized as making a long step in the
right direction, and as embodying a
practical working plan by which
disputes between the two countries will
feacn peaceful adl ustment as matter OF
course and in ordinary routine. In the initi-
alton Of such an important movement it
must be expected that some of its features
will assume tentative character looking to
afurther advance. and yet 1t is apparent that
the treaty which has been formulated not
only makes war between the parties to 1t q
remote possibility, but precludes those fears
and rumors Of war which Of themselves too
often assume the proportions Of a National
disaster.
at is eminently fitting as we'll as fortunate
that the attempt to accomplish results so
beneficial 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
stitutng civilized methods for brute
force as the means OF settling inter-
national questions Of right will thus
be tried under the happiest auspices. Its
success ought not to be doubtful, and the
tact that its ultimate ensuing benefits are
not likely to be limited TO the two countries
Immediately concerned should cause it to be
promoted all the more eagerly. The exam
pie set and the lesson furnished by the sue
cessful operation of this treaty are sure to
be felt and taken 10 heart sooner or later by
other Nations, and will thus mark the begin
ming OF a new epoch In civilization.
"Profoundly impressed as I am, there.
fore, by the promise Of transcendent good
which this treaty affords, do not hesitate
to accompany its transmission with an ex-
preston OF my earnest hope that 1t may
commend itself to the favorable consldera'
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