ARBITRATION TREATY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 15183, 30 June 1911, Page 5

ARBITRATION TREATY

BRITAIN AND AMERICA. AGREEMENT REACHED. Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyrisht. LONDON, Jun© 29. (Received June 29, at 9.40 p.m.) Mr Balfour presided at a Pilgrims' dinner given in honour of Mi' Hayes Ha.rn.nwnd, the United States special Ambassador. There was a great demonstration wlwn Mr Balfour read a. Washington telegram announcing an agreement between Britain and America on the arbitration treaty. WASHINGTON, Juno 29. • (Received Jnne 30, at 0.10 a.m.) It is expected that President Taft, having already received Britain's answer ill regard to the- proposed arbitration treaty, yill be ready to submit proposals to the present congressional scission. A complete agreement, has been reached on the fur seal question.

Progress has been made a long' way towards the conclusion of l.he Arbitration, or Peace, Treaty which is being negotiated between Great Britain and tho United State (said Lloyd's Weekly News of May 7). Ths text of tho treaty, as provisionally agreed upon, shows tlia't tho instrument is of a far-reaching character. Tho preamble contains thfi following expression of the desiro to avoid war: —

Tho Governments of thp United States and Great Britain, finding it advisable and humano to settlo all differences which may ariso m tho future without resort to force in order to preserve order and peacc in conformity with existing arbitration treaties and understandings, hereby ag'reo to consider and eJiforoa a settlement of all questions involving tho vital interests, independence, and honour of the itwo higii contracting parties by means of arbitration and peace, under such conditions, and _ for such poriod of time, as shall hereinafter bo fixed. The first section.provides that all differences that cannot bo settled by diplomacy shall be referred to tho Hague Court of Arbitration. This ela.uso is qualified, however, to exclude from its operation matters that aifcot tho " vital interest, independence, or honour of tho two countries," and matters thai concern tho interests of third parties. When diplomacy fails tho matter in dispute "'shall bo held in abeyance under contimwtl amicable relations" while tho representatives of tho two countries are beinp; selectc-d to reach a settlement through the Hbsim tribunal. Section 4- containi a, highly important clause._ It rims as follows" During the operation of this treaty the United States on the ono sido and Great Britain on tho other consent not to becomo parties to any , convention, treaty, understanding or alliance with any Power or Powers except iiy consent of the other." Disputes which go to arbitration are to. bo put before tho court by plenipotentiary commissions. Tho British commission shall lie appointed by the King, and the United States commission by tho President. Both appointments shall be Subject to tho con firmation of tho respective Governments, which sha.ll ratify the sittings and findings of the High Arbitration Commissions. Section 9 ordains that " it is agreed that. all differences not aifesing the vital interests, independence, and honourof either of tho two contenting States shall be submitted to tho Permanent Court of Arbitration, in accordance with the existing arbitration treaties not superseded by this agreement, and that the two Governments will observe tho stipulations of such treaties as may concern tho subject in dispute," Sec-tions 10 and 11 havo far-reaching effects with regard to tho framing of arbitration treaties,' with other countries, and us to tho duration and termination of tho Anglo-American treaty in particular. They mas follows:—" Section 10—Both tho high contracting panties aro at liberty to agroo to arbitration treaties under these' terms with any othnv Governments, in which caso both the high contracting parties shall bo bound to the new treaty. Section 11—Tho present, treaty shall go into effect immediately upon tho signing in duplicate, and it shall remain in operation for an indeterminate period, although it may be, terminated at 4he cml of every fifth year from tho date of . signing upon six months' notico from tho Government desiring to withdraw." Speaking at Baltimore, President Taft, referring to this treaty, said it would not end war, but would be a step in that direction. Arbitration treaties were simply stem towards universal peace, which would bo followed b,v other stops, tho necessity for wliidi would develop after tho arbitration compacts became effective.