New-York tribune., 1908-04-21
THE 4RBITP4TTON TREATIES.

The pending arbitration treaties between
America on the one hand and Great Britain
and France on the other are Identical ID tuer
general provisions Their terms may he DIS
appointing 10 those who have induIsed visions
Of unconditional instantaneous and universal
arbitration and they should be reassUring 10
those who have feared the usurpaton by some
alien tribunal of the essential functions OF our
own national sovereignty. The majority of
temperate thinkers between those extremes
will probably regard them marking an
earnest and judicious attempt to systematlze
and facilitate the arbitration of certain class
of international disputes, which should be
commended 10 sympathetic support, but when
frankly recognizes those limitations ot arDitraI
procedure which the truest friends OF lnterha
tionaI peace have not failed to perceive.
Under these treaties the powers concerned
agree to submit 10 arbitration az The Hague
not all differences. hut only those of a legal
nature. and those which it has not been found
possible To settle by the ordinary means OF Dup
lomacv. and such moreover, as do not affect
the vital interests, Independence or honor OF
the powers concerned or the interests Of any
third party These limitations or reservations
as we have frequently argued in these col
umnS. are reasonable and substantially essen
tial. and il is also reasonable and essential
that each power shall, these conventions
suggest he its own judge of the htneSs OF each
individual matter for arbitration Practically
these treaties will bind the United States 10
submit 10 arbitration only such disputes as the
government. or the President and Senate. may
see fit thus TO submit. We would NOT. now
ever be understood as intjmatng that they are
sIperfuous While nothing viii he done Unuer
them which might not have been done without
them the doing Of it will be a little easier be
cauca of theD1 and the inclination do Ii
will be little stronger. and in those ercum-
Stances there i some gain
The treaty with Great Britain differs from
that with France in the addition Of Two pro
vi~os one i thar the special agreements
which may be made under it shall not he blnd-
ing upon Great Britain before they are upon
the United States. That is obviously Just ana
reasonable: 50 much so that II may seem 10
some persons strange that il is necessary TO
make it and that the principle has not always
prevailed as matter Of course HE fact Is.
however that while the United States waits
,,D-u tho Senate rarifps treaty before being
hound hy it. Great Britain. having 10 SHch
system Of Parliamentary ratification, has been
in the habit Of considering herself bound as
soon as the treaty was signed. The other
Droviso is that before engaging to arbitratc any
issue affecting one of her self governing colo
MES Great Britain shall obtain the concur
renee or the government Of that colony,
Substantially these treaties are practical
agreements 70 systematize that which has
hitherto been uusystcmatic. They make no
nroIniso Of inerrant benevolence. but they do
nffer = lively promise Of husinesslike good They
viii make the settlement Of most disputes a
little easier and n little quicker. and they Viii
incline the official minds ot the nations lIttie
more toward friendly methods Of adjudication.