The Olney-Pauncefote Treaty of 1897

Abstract

FOR several reasons this seems an appropriate time to review the story of the birth and death of the Olney-Pauncefote Treaty. The negotiation of this pioneer agreement to submit to arbitration almost all controversies which might arise between two great nations was a landmark in man's long search for a substitute for force in international relations. The incident occurred, moreover, at an interesting moment in Anglo-American relations. For a century and a quarter before 1897 there had been almost continuous bickering and hostility between the two countries; for a half century thereafter there was to be growing understanding and co-operation. And, finally, the fate of the treaty is illustrative of the difficulties besetting the path of presidents and secretaries of state who try to make a substantial American contribution to the cause of peace. The treaty was a typical product of nineteenth century liberalism. Since men of good will were coming to hate war, there was a rising demand throughout the Western world for treaties which would commit nations in advance to submit their controversies to arbitral bodies. The movement was strong in both Great Britain and the United States; the House of Commons in I873 passed a resolution favoring the principle of international arbitration; the two houses of the American Congress followed suit the next year.1 It was natural to hope that the two English-speaking nations might set an example to the world in agreeing to a general arbitration treaty. Abundant precedent seemed to be offered in the agreements by which the two countries had since I795 submitted numerous specific issues to decision by either mixed commissions or special arbitral tribunals. In I887 Randal Cremer, member of Parliament and organizer of the Peace Society of Working Men, took the initiative in securing signatures for a memorial in favor of an Anglo-American general arbitration treaty. He appealed first to working class representatives in Parliament, but other names proved easy to secure and the document was eventually ornamented with the signatures of 234 members of the House of Commons. A delegation headed by Cremer and Lord Playfair, distinguished scientist and prominent in the