New-York tribune., 1903-07-28
ANGLO.FRENcH ARBLTRATL0N.

The practical good which we have expected to
sec follow the interchange of visits between
King Edward and President Loubet is already
beginning to take form. 1t bids fair to be seen
presently in permanent arbitration treaty be
tween the United Kingdom and the French Re
public The movement to that end indeed ante
dated the visits in question. and even the an
nOuncement Of them But before them 1t was
regarded merely academic if not altogether
visionary. 1t was an agreeable topic of con-
versatiOn among the benevOently disposed but
practical politicians paid little attention to it.
Now. however, since those visits. and, it may
well he believed largely because of them, the
status of the matter is changed. Responsible
statesmen and practical politicians are dis
cussing it an entirely feasible project which
the near future should and probably viii see
realized. For that thing, if for nothing
else, the royal and Presidential visits should
be remembered with gratitude by those two
nations and by the world.
We have hitherto commented upon the excel
lent work which is being done by the ''arbitra-
ton group of statesmen in the French Cham
Der of Deputies, led by such men Baron d'Es-
tournelles and NJ. Leroy -Beaulieu. The visit Of
this organization TO London last week was the
occasion of noteworthy demonstration of the
progress the international arbitration movement
q
Baron dEstournelles should make an eloquent
address, outlining and advocating an arbitra-
ton treaty between the two countries Us a
sequel 10 and partial consequence of the inter-
change of visits between the King and the
President. That what he went TO London
for. But it was a far different thing for Mr.
Balfour, at the same gathering, to urge his
hearers to see to it that the principles advo-
Gated by the French statesmen were put into
practice. and then TO declare that it was the
deliberate intention Of those two countries to
place on d permanent basis some organization
to prevent the petty friction which led to in
ternationa difficulties and to assure Baron
d'Estourneles that the British Government was
determined. if it could to adopt some practical
means to that end. y British Prime Minister
does not say such things as that unless. in col
lOquial phrase, there is something doing"
We may therefore expect in the near future
to see some sort Of arbitration treaty
concluded between the United Kingdom and
France Such a treaty between any two great
nations would be an important fact 1t will in
this case be especially significant because these
are the very two nations between which for
many years there have been the most bicker-
ingS and petty animosities. Egypt SIAM
FashOda, Nigeria-the recent history OF the
world is dotted with Anglo French "pin pricks"
1t will be marvellous change to have an end
of such things, and to have in each nation a
popular sentiment of confidence and affection
toward the other, and between the two govern
ments a workable and working arrangement
for the adjudication of real differences We are
not so visionary to see in this prospect the
dawn Of universal peace or of perpetual peace
between those two nations but it is reasonable
and conservative TO see in it an example and
a force that will materially make for peace and
good will among men.