BRITAIN AND AMERICA.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 95, 10 April 1908, Page 2

BRITAIN AND AMERICA.

I THE ARBITRATION TREATY. IMPORTANT PROVISIONS. TIII3 BRITISH COLONIES' INTERESTS CONSIDERED. Received 9th, 10.37 p.m. London, April 9. The Foreign Relations Committee of the United States Senate lias reported favorably on tlic arbitration treaty between Britain and the United States. Tiiis ensures ratification. Tlic Morning Post's Washington correspondent sends the text of tlic treaty, which has u. currency of five years. The treaty, like the treaty between the United States and France, provides that before any question is submitted to tho Hague Convention a special agreement i must be concluded dcliiiiug the matter ; of the dispute and other formalities, hut i embodies two important additions, t The first is Unit no such preliminary 3 agreement shall be binding in respect of liritain until the terms are approved by J the Senate and accepted by Britain n through exchange notes, t The second provision is still more ims portant, namely, Britain reserves the

right, before concluding a special agreenient in any matter affecting the interests of a self-governing dominion, to obtain the concurrence therein of the Government of that Dominion. The Morning Post says this clause constitutes welcome recognition of the position of the autonomous members of the Empire, but emphasises the need ot some organisation within the Empire representing the unity of aim in policy between Britain and other nations and I states. ; ' i