INTERNATIONAL ARBITRATION.

Auckland Star, Volume XLII, Issue 154, 30 June 1911, Page 5

INTERNATIONAL ARBITRATION.

BRITISH-AMERICA2C TREATY. CBy Cable.—Press Assotdation.—Copj-ristt.) LONDON, June 29. Mr. Balfour presided at the dinner given by the Pilgrims' Club last night in honour of Mr. H'ayes Hammond, the special Ambassador sent by the United States in connection with the Coronation celebrations. There was a great demonstration when Mr. Balfour read the telegTam from Washington, ■announcing an agreement between Britaiji and America on the arbitration treaty. WASHINGTON, June 29. It is expected that President Taft, having already received Britain's answer with regard, to the proposed arbitration treaty, will be ready to submit the pro» posals to the present Congressional session. A CONSTJX'S ZiroiSCRETI/JN , . ALLIANCE AGAINST GSIiMAJfY. (Received, 9.15 a.m.) WASHINGTON, June 29. A motion wa s introduced into the House of Representatives to-day by Mr. G. A. Hamill, dravring attenjaon to the speech by Mr. Jobn Griffiths, Consul-General at London, at a meeting of the Pilgrims Society, iv favour of an alliance between the United States And Britain for war on a country with w&ieh America is at peace. It is understood that the draft agreement negotiated by Mr. Bryce, Plenipotentiary of King George, and Mr. Knox, Plenipotentiary of the President of the United States, provides that differences which may arise of a legal natu/re -or relating to the interpretation of 'treaties existing between the two contracting parties, and which it may not have been possible to settle by diplomacy, shall be referred to the Permanent Court of Arbitration established .•it The Hague by the Convention of July 29, 1899. The treaty between Great Britain and the United States ratified by the Senate in April, 1908, which was negotiated by "Mr. Bryce and Mr. Elihu Root, Secretary of State, and proclaimed by President Roosevelt, contained a similar provision to the foregoing, but the treaty of 1908 expressly stipulated that the differences to be referred to arbitration s'aould only be those which did not affect the "vital interests, the independence or the honour of the two contracting; States and matters concerning the interests of third parties." It is understood that the words in quotation marks will nave no place in the new agreement, and that the Senace will be asked to accept a clause which will have the effect of. greatly enlarging the class of matters deemed suitable for arbitration in consonance with the expressed and mutual desire of both the high contracting parties as evidenced in their exchange of views in the preliminary negotiations at Washington. The work of ■framing this part of the treaty was no easy matter, because while the position of both parties was in a large measure similar, there existed perfectly legitimate differences of interpretation as regards what actually constitutes "vital interests, the independence and honour" of the two contracting parties. There is excellent reason, however, for the belief "that the Plenipotentiaries have virtually agreed upon a clause so framed as to mark a great advance, not only over the Anglo-American Treaty of 1908, but over all other treaties of the klnil negotiated between first-class Powers, and, indeed, inaugurating a new era in tne anrials of peace conventions. Both parties to the negotiations have be_en inspired by a desire to frame a, treaty which shall satisfy public opinion on either side of the Atlantic, and the actual text will jrarrant the statement that this agreement, while tending to perpetuate peace between the contracting parties, will "be of supreme value in the way of example to other nations which have been invited elsewhere by Mr. Taft to raase similar agreements amongst themselves and with the United States. In each individual case of dispute it is recognised that the high contracting parties, before appealing to the Permanent Court of Arbitration at The Hague, shall conclude a special agreement defining clearly the matter in dispute, the scope of the powers of the arbitrators, and the periods to be fixed for the formation or tile arbitral tribunal. Such special agreements on the part of the United , States, it is understood, -will be made by the President of the.United States by and with the advice and consent of the Senate thereof, His Majesty's Government reserving the right before concluding a special agreement in any matter affecting the vita] interests of a self-governing Dominion. of the British Empire to obtain the con- 1 eurrence therein of the Government or the Dominion. It is understood that the agreement will cover a period' of five years, dating from the day of the exchange of ratifications.