Page:The Presidents of the United States, 1789-1914, v. III.djvu/338

 286 LIVES OF THE PRESIDENTS thus raising the number to 80,000. When he first became president there were only 13,000 appoint ments out of 130,000 for which any test of the kind was required. In Mr. Cleveland s last annual message, after de claring that the agreement between Great Britain and the United States regarding the Venezuela boundary question had practically removed that question from the field of controversy, he added that &quot;negotiations for a treaty of general arbitra tion for all differences between Great Britain and the United States are far advanced and promise to reach a successful consummation at an early date.&quot; On January 11, 1897, a treaty between Great Brit ain and the United States for the establishment by the two countries of such an international tribunal of general arbitration was signed by Secretary Ol- ney and Sir Julian Pauncef ote at Washington, and sent by President Cleveland to the senate. This treaty was hailed with great satisfaction by all friends of arbitration. The preamble stated that the articles of the treaty were agreed to and con cluded because the two countries concerned are &quot;desirous of consolidating the relations of amity which so happily exist between them, and of con secrating by treaty the principle of international arbitration.&quot; No reservation was made regarding the subject-matter of disputes to be arbitrated. Matters involving pecuniary claims amounting to