The arbitration treaty between Great Britain and the United States mentioned above, pro vided for the submission of all questions fail ing of diplomatic adjustment to arbitrators. The questions were divided into three classes: (1) Pecuniary claims not aggregating £100,000, not involving territorial questions: (2) pecuni ary claims of over £100,000, not involving ter ritorial questions; (3) questions involving rights of a territorial nature. The tribunal for the settlement of the first class of questions was to be composed of three members: for the second, of five; for the third, of six. The odd member in each of the first two classes was to be selected by the United States Supreme Court and the British Judicial Comisittee of the Privy Coun cil, acting jointly, or. on their failure to agree, by the King of Sweden and Norway. The de cisions of these courts were to be final. For the last class, the court was to be composed of three members of the United States Supreme Court and three members of the British Supreme Court of Judicature. Only awards in which five of the six concurred were to be final. For the provisions of the Hague Arbitration and Convention, sec HAGUE PEACE CON FEREN CC.
The following is a list of some of the principal arbitrations and adjustments to which the United States has been a party: (1) Between the United States and Great Britain, under the Jay Treaty of 1794, providing for three mixed commissions: one to settle the identity of the Saint Croix River, forming a part of the northeastern boundary; one to determine the compensation due to British subjects in consequence of impediments imposed by some of the States to the collection of debts by British creditors, in violation of the treaty of peace; and a third for the settlement of the question of contraband. the rights of neutrals, and the finality of decisions of prize courts.
( 2) Between the United States and Great Britain under the Treaty of Ghent, 1814, providing for three commissions: one to settle the ownership of certain islands in Bay and the Bay of Fundy; a second to determine the north east boundary of the United States from the river Saint Croix to the river Saint Lawrence; and a third to determine the northern boundary of the United States along the middle of the Great Lakes to the water communication between Lakes Huron and Superior, and the further de termination to the Lake of the Woods. On the latter point the commission could not agree.
(3) Between the United States and Great Britain, in ISIS, regarding the obligation of Great Britain to restore slaves in the British pos sessions at the time of signing the Treaty of Ghent. Referred to the Emperor of Russia, who
decided that the United States was entitled to compensation for slaves transported from terri tories restored under the treaty. Two mixed boards were created to determine the claims; but these boards disagreeing, the sum of $1,204, 960 was finally accepted by the United States in full satisfaction.
(4) Between the United States and Spain, in 1819, regarding the satisfaction of American claims against Spain during her occupation of Florida. By the terms of the Treaty of Florida, the United States agreed to settle these claims.
(5) Between the United States and Great Britain, in 1827, for the settlement of the dispute regarding the northeastern boundary. The King of the Netherlands was chosen arbitrator, but his award was not accepted by the United States. The matter was afterwards settled by eompro misa, in the Webster-Ashburton Treaty.
(6) Between the United States and France, the claims of Ainerican citizens growing out of French depredations at sea during the Napoleon ic wars, and the French Beaumarchais Claim, and claim to special commercial privileges under the Louisiana Cession Treaty, were adjusted by Minister Rives after long negotiation in 1831 by an indemnity to the United States of $5,55S, 108.07. But the French Government delayed in executing the convention and a diplomatic rup ture resulted, only allayed by the mediation of Great Britain, in 1836, when the full amount was paid.
(7) Between the United States and Great Britain, in 1846, for the settlement of the San Juan water boundary. It had been decided to continue the line between the British Possessions and the United States southerly from the mid dle of the channel separating Vancouver's Island from the continent, through the said channel and Fuca Straits to the Pacific Ocean. The dispute as to the latter portion of the boundary was referred to a commission which disagreed. By the Treaty of Washington (1871) the tion was referred to the Emperor of Germany, who rendered an award sustaining the American claims to the Ilaro Channel as the true interpre tation of the treaty. This boundary was finally fixed by the protocol of 1873.
(8) Between the United States and Great Brit ain in 1855 to determine by a mixed commission the reciprocal "Reserved Fisheries Rights" under the Reciprocity Treaty of 1854, which re newed the privileges renounced under the Con vention of 1818 by taking and curing fish in "unsettled bays, harbors and creeks" along the Canadian shore. The work of the commission was to define the "rivers and river-mounts" re served under the treaty, and was not concluded until 1800.