The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-12-22
ENGLAND.

Opinions Of tho Enslisa PgeEs President
GRANTS 1Iessn:e--yhe Alabama ClaIms-
1ho American fisheries.
The London Times OF the Sth takes the Message up
md thus remarks on it,
The regret Of President Grant that no settlement
pf the Alabama claims has yeJ been Concluded is
fully shared by the government ana people OF this
country; but 10 conyersant with the history OF
this question can accept his view OF Its present
aspect. by allown. claims to be presented against
Us oil which the validity must depend upon con-
FEDERATION Of the conduct pursued by Lord Paniers-
still more by consen,iag TO allow tne whole dipio-
matte correspondence TO be lad before the COninis-
sioners, We did. IN the fullest sense, concGde
that Lord Palmertsons government might have
been guilty OF negligence, and might have done
States might have just cause TO complain. To re-
CURE us 70 go further and p.eudge the case against
ourselves BY ad,ng befJ Sa a. that wn,a y INC
arbitrators, Is 80 utterly monstrous that we cannot
believe President Grant TO have intended II. me
doctrine that recnnary claim may De established
against our government Tor premature recognition
OF the Confederate States as beiiselent power, or
other alleged breaches or neutrality, apart fron the
Aabama Claims, Is OF course ar5aale, but II IL GER
tai,ly not tenae. AS for the idea thai an uaiiendy
that, no discerning advocate OF American ri9hs
would be willing TO advance. Whatever may be the
object OF Iresideut Grant in recommending that .
commission should be appointed BY Congress to
ascertain the amount and ownership OF these cloina,
with view 10 the.r being hqui1a.ea by the United
States government when hencsiOlth would become
the sole piaintilf ir il not quite Impossible Lhat Is
may ultimately Simplify arbitration between the Two
governments.
The London Post speaking on the same subject,
thus reviews the Canadian fsaery dlttlcalty:-
The Post contends that the statement made ny
President Grant, that the course adopted By Canada
regarding the fisheries Is very unfrendy, Is entirely
those iactss III 1913 O Convention was concluded
by the provisions Of which II became illegal FOR
Canadian coass. The Americans, with their al.
United shrcwdness, soon discovered that they could
Tsang Of ss esr las woss
The mouths Of which exceeded Elk miles IN
width. and SO to fish IN Canadian waters. Tho
Canadians naturally rce6 the Convention IN the sense
that the Americans sb0uld not fish within three
milos OF lines drawn from EeadiGnd TO headland The
dams conserving TO grant the American vessels
licences 10 nsh. But the concession was Of favor
can Congress- Of the Reciprocity treaty, and the fall
IRE Of several negotiations for lis renewal, the Cana
dams resolved 70 Discontinue their fayors to Tho
American fishermen. There was no attempt at con.
cealment OF the cause for tie adoption Of this course.
What, then, becomes OF President Grants allegation
matter Of the laaeres9 Clearly even II the dlscon
tnuance OF the fishery licences had been decided
as retailatory measure retaliation had been pro.
vOked by America herself.
Alter stating the question OF the proposal OF the
American government to buy III the claims OF the
sufferers by the depredatioas OF the Alabama the
Pau Nan Gazette says
1t will no longer be anybodys speciai business to
Keep the dispute alive, and, 30 far, that may make
The situation easier. But then Ii VIII become the
general business OF every taxpayer to see that the
United States are not IN the long run the losers by
the berality OF the executive And IL VIII In some
respects be more difficult Tor the government to drop
claim TO the justice OF which they have set their
seal BY making 1t their eS than II II had remained
the claim Of such and such American citizens. How
ever this may be, there is little doubt that the effect
or the question being renewed In this form Will be
embtter American feeling toward England. Tie gov
eminent viii be obliged to state their Ease as against
this country In trenchant terms, IN order TO give
their scheme the momentum which VIII be wauled
to carry 1t through Congress; and 80 favorable an
opportunity OF making patriotic speeches to their
constituents will be neglected hy but few members
In either house. It viii DO well ii tho debate is kept
gp even to the very moderate level OF statesman.
SLIP attained by MIR. Sumner when moving the re-
!ccMon OF the CiarendonJohnson treaty. II there
were any Likelihood oil the English case being as
IaIly presented In Congress SIS IL has been IN the
Wnt.ngs OF American jurists, this evil would have
ns C;onponsatlon. II both sides OF tho argument
couid DC larry put before the american people by
sueakers 10 whom they would be wiling to listen,
sc smouiu even now have little fear OF tue result
but tne argument as stated in Congress- will not in
aude both sides Of the question Ii Is more likely