The Sun.
London, England, 1871-02-20 00:00:00

THE AMERICAN COMMISSION.

The Economist thinks it is well not to be ton hopeful
of the result of the joint commission appointed to arrange
the disputes between this country and the United States.
But still the consent given by the Government to the joint
commission was a judicious act. Half the dangerous
quarrels among nations arise out of the fear of appearing
to give way through timidity,_ of being humiliated in the
eyes of the world. Very few quarrels not involving ces-
sion of territory would be entirely beyond settlement if
the nations involved could reason as coolly as lawyers
when settling a compromise for their clients ; and-in esti-
mating a quasi-judicial decision, such as the joint commis-
sioners can pass, the nations can keep cool. And above
all and before all the commissioners are better able than
diplomatists to travel a little out of the record, and sug-
gest, as private individuals so often do, a compromise for
the sake of peace, whie, looks irregular or even absurd,
but which nevertheless ba.i,lies the parties much better
than any concession more consistent with the rigour of the
law For example, in the matter of the Alabama claims,
strict legality is probably on the side of the Union ; but it
is nevertheless most difficult to make any concession with-
out appearing to alter our municipal legislation under
pressure. In the matter of the fisheries again, legality is
on our side ; but it is most difficult for the American
Government to give way without surrendering an inter-
pretation of treaties to which Americans zealously adhere,
and in favour of which the President himself has expressed
a distinct opinion. Taken separately, a good-tempered
agreement on either point would be nearly hopeless ; but
the Commissioners, by taking them together, may arrive
compromise which will content everybody. It is
saint
taed
indeed that the rulers at Washington already see
this, and think they can buy the right to fish—which is
very valuable to them, as yielding a race of hardy and
adventurous fishermen—for the money value of the Ala-
bama claims, and some money besides. That arrangement
may be possible or impossible, wise or unwise; but it would
involve no indignity, nothing but a fair negotiation under
the presidency of business men. Besides the fisheries, the
British Government possesses all manner of make-weights
in an arrangement with the Union. On the greatest of
these— the "free navigation of the St. Lawrence"—we
must wait for Canadian opinion, as the effect of any con-
cession in that direction can be determined only by men
with minute and local geographical knowledge; but there
are questions of boundary all along the frontier, questions
of mining rights and of navigation rights on the Pacific
side, which will leave the commissioners, should any part
of the case go against us, with plenty to offer without
descending to actual money payment.

RE-VACCINATION IN THE NAVY.--.We under.,
stand that orders have been issued for the vaccination of
all boys and cadets in her Majesty's vessels. We have
before remarked upon the omission of this precaution in
the navy, and we hope that its introduction during the
present epidemic of smallpox will lead to the practice of
re-vaccination of all classes entering that service, as has
been the invariable rule for some years past in the army,
Medical Times and Gazette.