AMERICA AND BRITAIN

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXXII, Issue 12438, 10 April 1908, Page 5

AMERICA AND BRITAIN

Ratification of Arbitration As-

sured,

Press Association.— Telegraph. —Copyright.

Received April 9, 10.37 p.m. LONDON. April 9

The Foreign Relations Committee of the United States Senate has reported favourably on the arbitration treaty between Britain and ih<j United States. This ensures the ratification of the Treaty.

The Morning Post's Washington correspordent sends v text of the treaty, which has a currency of five years and provides for a like treaty between the United States and France.

Before any question was submitted to the Hague Convention, a special agreement must be concluded, defining" the matter in dispute, and other formalities, but the treaty <-rnhodies two important additions. The lirst is that no such preliminary agreement shali be binding on Britain until the terms are approved by the Senate and acr°ptcd by Britain through the exchange of Notes.

The second i.« still more important nan.ely, that Lritain reserves the right, before concluding a special agreement in any matter allrciing the interest of a selfgoverning Dominion, to obtain the concurrent thereia of the Government of that Dominion.

Tin Morning Post says that this clause constitutes ,i welcome recognition of the position of the autonomous members of the Empire, but enpliasises the need for some organisation within the Empire representing unity of aim in the policy between Britair. and otlu:r Nations and States.