The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-12-29
International Cable Conveniion--The Presi-
dents Propositions.

dents Propositions.
We cannot commend too highly the propo-
sitions of President Grant with regard to sub
marine international cables, which he has
caused to ba transmitted through the Secretary
OF State TO- our Ministers and diplomatic agents
abroad. The Presidents views are embodied
in public document which appeared in our
columns yesterday. They are clearly put and
are entirely in accordance with the opinions
which we have repeatedly expressed. The
| neutrality OF the submarine cables isp a vital
| point in the comfy of nations, whether they
be at peace or war, for the condition Of war
| does not properly destroy the comfy. 1t
exists, only in different shape and is subject
to rules BETTING the circumstances; but the
rules of war are as stringent and as binding as
those which prevail in times of peace, and are
so observed by all civilized nations. The
object of the present diplomatic order is, there
fore, to establish perfect freedom for sub
| marine Geographic communication between
those countries where the termini Of sub
marine cables are located. The President
desires that convention of the representa-
tives of all maritime nations should be called
in order that a full understanding should be
arrived at with regard to the following
points -
First, that suitable provision shall be made
for the protection Of cable lines from wanton
destruction in time of war, nd he suggests that
such interference with the submarine cables
shall be regarded as an act of piracy and
punished as such. He protests against the as
sumption Of ono nation to control the connec-
ton with the shores of another nation, except
by the joint concession Of the two govern
ments. The wisdom of this ia apparent. Ex-
| perience shows that an Atlantic cable with
terminus on the soil Of one government on both
| sides Of the ocean may become q dangerous
| instrument in the hands of the government
which controls it. So also would it be dam
gerous to grant the right to France or any
other European government to land cable
upon the shores of the United States without
| accompanying that right with certain provi-
sions securing absolutely the protection of our
| own interests.
| All this General Grant evidently compre-
hends and good deal more on the same
| subject; for we notice that he has not over
looked the important question of government
scrutiny over Geographic dispatches exercised
| by the Power at either end of the cable. II is
manifest that the right to employ such scrutiny
would not only imperl confidence be-
tween nations in time of peace, but would
inevitably obstruct and set at naught all
calculations and operations in time of war.
Without this restriction the cable wires would
become mere detectives in the employment of
what ws recently have been made familiar
with in 80 many odious shapes, called 'The
necessities Of war" 1t Is contemplated to
embrace in this proposed convention the
whole family OF civilized maritime nations,
including France, England, Sweden, Norway,
Spain, Italy, North Germany, Denmark,
Portugal Austria, Russia, Belgium, Holland,
Turkey and Greece, and all the sea-bound
countries of the South American Continent
This is what President Grant proposes to
accomplish in order to put telegraphic COM
munication on a free end honest basis between
nation and nation-a basis that cannot be
abused in the halcyon days OF peace, nor dis
turbed in the troubous times of war. We
hope that the suggestion will be adopted by
the foreign governments to whom Secretary
Fish has addressed the circular and that a
convention duly assembled will establish the
freedom of all our submarine cables, present
and to come, by solemn compact entered
into according TO the Presidents wise and
timely plan.
TIE FENIANs AND THE RED RIVER Row.
In the Winnipeg rebellion there is u fine
chance for great deal of blather and Il
homeopathic proportion OF fighting conse-
! qnently the Fenians propose TO take q hand in
This is fine notion on the part of the great
strategsts who command the invisible forces of
the Irish republic. Let them make common
cause with a people already at war with some
! part Of the British empire. Thus they will
secure a base Of operations. No law can
prevent them going up the Red river, and
once there, the half-breeds will not endeavor
TO restrain their martial ardor on the score of
neutrality, and they can blaze away at the
New Dominion to their hearts content They
need take no notice Of what is said by the
leader of the half-breeds-that his people do
not want To 'tbe made Irshmen Of" for IF