ARBITRATION.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXIII, Issue 9118, 10 April 1908, Page 5

ARBITRATION.

TREATY BETWEEN BRITAIN AND UNITED STATES. Press Association —Copyright, ' London, April 9. ( The Foreign Relations Committee of the United States Senate has reported favourably on the arbitration treaty between Britain and the United States. This ensures the ratification of the Treaty.

The Morning Post’s Washington correspondent sends a test 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 is submitted to the Hague Convention, a special agreement must be concluded, defining the matter in dispute, and other formalities, but the treaty embodies two important additions. The first is that no such preliminary agreement shall be binding on Britain until the terms are approved by the Senate and accepted by Britian through the exchange of Notes.

The second is still more important, namely, that Britain reserves the right, , before concluding a special agreement in any matter affecting the interest of a self-governing Dominion, to obtain the concurrence therein of the Government of that Dominion.

The Morning Boat says that this clause constitutes a welcome recognition of the question of the position of the autonomous members of the Empire, but emphasises the need for some organisation within the Empire representing unity of aim in the policy betwwen Britian and the colonies.