The New York herald., 1869-02-23
ENGLAND.
The London Times on the CArcndon-Jo Johnson
Treaty.
from the London Timer, FEB. 81

from the London Times, Feb. O.
We published yesterday the text OF the Alabama
convention with the unsed states. More tnan 2
fortnight ago orr American CORES pondent informed
Ne by Telegraph that the President had sent lhe
convention 10 the Senate for Consideration and has
letter In our impression OF Thursday described the
manner IN which Il had been receiveo. The simple
truth appears 70 be that the senate did not know
what 10 make OF the document placed before them,
and they wisely took advantage Of sne circumstance
that the OF the rati0catIon had been received
through the Atlantic cable TO defer DEBATE on the
contents OF the convention until iler particulars
came by the ordinary post. II is probable that our
own lay r aders Will fee mucn puzzled'as the sen.
ate Of the United states felt when they nrsf read
the articles or the agreemeut. They VIII
not understand thc force OF one article,
or the meaning or another or why this
desirable Il wanting. Nor IL the practkcd inter-
prefer OF diplomatic conventions likely TO be per
Is not to be denied that Il IS deficient IN iucdity
and order There Il no separation o. questions of
the crucble or arbitration. ana 1t u not easy TO
foresee what may come out OF IL we KNOW not 70
IN a blaze or glory, because believed, and. az
II was thought, sufficient authority, that he and
Mr. Keyerdy Johnson had sfted the matters IN con-
fention between ourselves ana the American goy-
ernneni, ana reduced the whole dispute 10 shape
admitting an easv determination OF every point
Then followed difficulty, or q supposed aitnculty
and Lorsi Clarendon hal the ungraclous task OF
patching mp again the Incomplete treaty. lt has
been understood that the convention. IN the form
now made pubic, Is substantially that 70 which
Lord Stanley asscnted and Ia this case IL IL plain
that the credit nscrbcd to him was greater than we
should now be disposed 70 allow; but the opening Of
Parliament IA at hand that ~ practically
useless 10 speculate on the origin OF the convention
before us.
WHAT is the conventions The contracting parties
agree 70 refer all claims arising since the 2th NJ
Ju.y, 1853 the Gate OF the last convention between
the TWO countries, including the Alabama claims -
commission OF four members, two 10 be appointed
each side This commission Is TO meet ~ early
M possible at Washington and elect an umpire. n
they cannot agree upon single umpire, each side
n 70 name It's own umpire, aud questions upon
which majority Of the commission cannot agrec
to he referred 20 OF these two urnpires who
n to be determined Ia each case by lot. Every cinim
IN TO be presented within six months aud The con-
mi ssiOuers TO investigate them in any order they
mas approve, but upon such evidence aud inforIna-
tiOn only a. shall bo furnished by or on bcnalf a.
the respective governments. The oilcial CORES
pondencc which has arisen on any claim is
10 be laid before the commission, together
with any document statement either gov
ernment may ndduce and the commission
nrc 10 hear II rcqulrcu person on each side M
counsel or agent on each and every separate claim
aNcvertheess,p the convention runs, .'iI the COM
mispfoncrs or any two OF them, snail think u desr
BILE that sovereign or head OF friendly state
should be arbitrator or umpire In the case OF pIy
claim the commissioners shall report TO that effect
20 their respective governments, who shall there
upon within six months agree upon some sovereign
o. head cf friendly state who shall DC invited 70
decide upon such claim" ~.
The convention. then, wnilo expressly including
shs Alabama claims formally excludes no ground