New-York tribune., 1867-09-11

do deem necessary reply at large TO the re-
this Government in regard TO the proceedings of me so
called fcnians The Fcnian movement neither DeglhS
nor ends IN the United States; the movers IN those pro-
ceedings not native citizens Of the United states Dut
they natives OF Great Britain though some oi thel
have assumed naturalization in the United states lher
quarrel with Great Britain 10 not an American bnJ Is
British one, as old sincerely hope Il may no or 90. lsl.
ing, The uDI0n OF the United Kingdom Their ann -
not American but British revolution. In seeking 10
make the territory of the United states base for tbc or
and naval operations for s establishment there, thcy
alege that they have followed as an example proceed
ng OF British subjects regard TO civil allowed
nv Her Maiesty's Government The policy and proceed
ngs Of the Governments IN rear o. these parallel
government has not recognized the Irish Republic ~
belgeren and has dsanedit forces when found within
WIN recard 10 the manner in which this protracted
controversy shall be- brought to an end, we aee entirety
with the Sentiments expressed ny Lord StnleS. We
should even think better that il be brought To an Gnu
which might, perhaps IN some degree dioapl4@,t @ @ .o
nations each Of which is powerful enough 10 lpue tle
other deeply, while their maintenance o cohnr.s piM I'm
eiples i'm regard 20 intervention would be eaamlly 10 an
nations The United States think IL not only easier ana
more desirable that Great Britain should ackhoWeuSo
and satisfy the claims tor indemnity which we have SUP
mited, than 10 would lie to find equal and wise ;rD
traitor who would consent TO adJdlcate theh u, nov
ever, Her Majestys Government for reasons safisacty
to them, should prefer the remedy OF arbitration tnG
United States would not object The United states IA
that world expect 20 refer the whole controversy Just
IL is found in the correspondence which has taken place
between the two governments, with such further ey
dcnce and arguments either party desire without
imposing restrictions conditions limitations upon tne
umpire and without waving any principle or argument
tion upon the consideration that involves point Of ma
tiohal honor; and the other hand, they will not re
be expressly ruled and determined as such. If Her
Maiestys Government shall in these views the
President will be ready to treat concerning the choice OF
." D"'"'' 'H' ''' '''' WILLIAM H. sEwArD.
Lord STANLEY 10 Mr.. Bruce.
FOREIGN OFFICE, March D. 1907.
SIR transmit TO you herewith copy OF Mr. Sewards 3
reply. which was communicated To me ny MI Adams on
the 18th OF Jnnay to my dispatch OF the JOh 0i NoNe
ber, on the subject of tic Alabama claims
Ia this reply you viii perceive, MI Seward restates
United States in the previous correspondence the sub
feet Of these claims and agan discusses the character or
the vessels in whose deprcdOns on the commerce O the
United States the claims originate, the responsibility OF
the British Government for the equipment ana proceed
by the British Government by reason or It's recOgnoh l
the begorent character of the socalled confederate
States.
IL appears to Her Majestys Government tlat no useful
result be obtained by following Mr. seward over
course OF "A lOng.prOtractcd correspondence. NO new
ght can be thrown the subject matter OF dispute Dy
reviving exhausted controversy Or 10y eiteiatinS
statements ana arguments e'Dolalely I S ~
putod either Siae. such course would De eahatsu
rather To defeat than TO promote the object Whch lne
British Government and doubtless, that OF the united
States has most at heart, nlntIy he anIC dDIe auJuSi
nent Of the existing points Of difference.
will abstain Therefore from any detailed eXamina-
ion OF the statements in Mr. Stewards aispachol ol lh
18th OF January, and viii only for the sake OF hsloea
accuracy, specifically aude to Two points IN esdu ~
the first il be observed. that whatever may De
found the IOnilucDtl1l archives OF tnt Ct'H'
the unpublished records oi the British uoelgiD Once ~
Nh Seward de~gnBtes them, 40 not, s LII rs am de
To discover bear ont the allegation that any nluehec
was cNelted by the British Government 10 induce me
authorities OK the United states IN any quarter oi he
world To relax heir Vigilance IN detecting ana bringing
nome 10 SlsptclcH pI'IcS att'IPts VI W " 80
fringe the municipal laws OF England, or 10 eNade hcf III
ternatiohal opliSalvS anu vi tic seoonu poi, m &
repeat, ia accordance with my former argument OH the
subject hat the President Of the United states, ana not
the queen OF lihd, y primary iepon1o p, o ~ & ,e -
knOwicdgment OF the bcllGerent character IN te so
called Confederate states, aud that, III recoslzDg the
status of the sOcd Confederate states as begeteni,
the British Government found itself associated with the
greater part II not the whole o the maritime powers Oh
But will not be led any fmiker into renewal of con
troyCr.y on these other points raised by Mr. seward
and that not because feel any d9not ns 10 me PossDy
Of maintaining The ground on when the btllsh 1oFclb
have htheiO taken their stand Dut because lct
that by doing 50 should be more likely TO retard hah TO
advance settlement OF the real question a lssue hae
that OF the liability Of the British Government 10 MAKE
operations ~ Confederate slpso waf III Hnl'i ,
subjects alleged at souie time or 0ther 10 nave h1
more or less interest aud which in their character OF
Confederate ships of war were al Cerent times admitted
in the poris Of Her MsieSty's domnions
In my dispatch of the j0th November, explained 10
Won the grounds on which Her Macsty's Government
could refer foreign power 10 determine
whether the policy of recognizing inc Confederate STATES
as brlgcrrnt power not suitable 10 the oIr
cumstanccs ~ the time when that recognition was made
but at the same time expressed the WILLINGNESS OF hei
Majestys Government TO entertain IN frienay spirit
any proposal winch might be made 10 lhet by the uN-
ernment Of the United States, o refer 10 arbitration oher
which might be AT issue between the Two GOV
ernments IN reference 10 the late war and desired you
10 invite MI seward state what were the precise points
which in his opinion might be- and ought 10 De- 90 det
Mr. seward in his dispatch of the 18th of January,
while suggesting that II would be mot only easier 1ut
more desirable that Great Britain shOuld ackhowedge
and satisfy the claims or indemnity which we nave s,-
mittcd than IL would be To ind equal and wise arbi
who would consent 10 adudlcate heIn goes Oh 10
say. that II Her Maicstys Government should prefer the
remedy OF arbitration the United States would not object
but in that would expect to refer the Whole con
troycrsy Just t is found in the correspondence winch
has taken place between the two Governments WIN scl
further evidence and argument either party may de
sire without imposing restriction. conditions, or ima
upon the umpire and without WAVING any princlpic
OF argument Oh either side
TO such an eresire and unlimited reference Her Mai
esys Cove neut cannot consent for this reason aiIonS
others that would admit or and indeed compel the
Submission TO the arber Of the very question whlch
have already said they cannot agree To submit
The real al issue between the two governments
when kept apart from collateral considerations, Is
whether m the matter connected with the vessels ont OF
whose the claims of American citizens have
al sen, the pursued by the British Goveinmenf
ana b those who acted under its authority such a.
woud involve moral responsibility the part OF the
British Government To make good either IN whoe vi III
part the losses of American citizens. ,
This - plain and simple question: easily 10 De consd
cred by arbitcr. and admitting OF soutloh wh9M y
Majesty Government fully prepared to go 10 sfp
tration with the further provision tha II tne VI
the arber is unfavorabe 10 the British view the exam
nation OF the several claims OF citizens of the United
states shall bo referred % mixed coinmlssion WIN
view 10 the settlement OF the sums to be PAID on them
Hut as they consider IL great Importance, fof the
maintenance Of good understanding between tne Two
countries that the adjudication or TINS question III iao
Of ona or the other parties should not leave othd
questions Of claims in which their respective subjects ot
ciizens Az Interested to be matter OF fnrther ds
greruent between the two countries, Her Majesty COY
srnment, with Wow 70 the common lntelest Oh "ch
think lt necessary, you have already apprseo At
sswar in your letter OF the 7th OF January IN te eveat
of an understanding being come TO between tne TWO
ernments IA To IN which the special Aherca
~ ch have formed the subject Of the correspond
ence Of which my present dispatch tine sequel shouu
c dealt with that under convention, 10 De separately
INIT concluded the general claims oil tae
SUBJECTS aud citizens of the two countries arising c1 o.
the eyents OF the late war should he submitted 10
mi xed commission. with view 10 tneir eventual pa,
for them" 1T, ,,..... -,
such, them ~ the proposal which Her Maesty.s GOV
desire submit the Government OF the United
states Ilmt reference 10 arbitration IN regard 10 the
sooaicd Alabam, claims and adjudication by means OF
a M xeJ commission. Of general claims