Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-05-11

comes the amount of damages, which are TO be
adjudicated by board of assessors, or ordered
paid in gross, leaving the United States to settle
with the individual claimants 3d. All claims
of British subjects from 1861 to the close of our
rebellion are to be decided by an ordinary mixed
commission, the umpire on which shall be des.
ignated by friendly power. There is q decided
limitation to the class Of claims that can be in
PRODUCED by reason of the recent action of the
British government towards those of its citizens
who were in France during the recent war,
which declares that foreigners having property
in country at war are not entitled to special
protection or reclamation for damages thereto
on the part of their own government
1t is declared here that these points are de-
cided triumph, especially since Great Britain
adds expression of regret for the occurrence of
the incidents we complained of.
ON THE FISHERIES QUESTION
We stand well, though as to that you in Massa-
chusetts are better able to judge. For the privi-
leges of the marine league and the right to
land on provincial shores, we extend reciprocal
rights as far down as the thirty-ninth parallel,
besides admitting into each fish oil and fish of
all kinds, the produce of both countries, free of
duty.
After a trial of this plan, arbitration is to be
had to ascertain which party is most benefited,
and if it is the United States, what amount we
| shall pay the New Dominion for the benefits
arising, over and above fair reciprocity.
We are to have the free navigation of the St.
Lawrence, including the Welland canal, with its
navigable tributaries, with the removal from
our lumber of provisional duty imposed on
the st. Johns river, for which we give the free
navigation of the st. Clair Flats canal and of
Lake Michigan.
The San Juan boundary question is to be
submitted to the Emperor of Germany as arbi-
traitor, and the administration and our commits
sioners feel assured of favorable decision.
WHO MUST RATIFY2
The ratification of these several provi-
sions is required of four different bodies. The
sections relating to the Alabama and British
claims, are to be approved by the imperial gov.
eminent, through its ministers and the queen,
and by this government through the president
and senate conformity. The president has al
ready done so, and the latter will begin its de-
Iberations thereon tomorrow. The San Juan
section goes also through the same process. The
fisheries section will require to be ratified by the
British government, the American senate, the
legislature of Prince Edwards Island, and the
New Dominion parliament. To this degree
does the new treaty recognize the existence in
semi-sOvereign capacity of the ambitious Brit
ish-American quasi-nationality to the north of
us. Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and New
foundland are interested to a far larger extent
than either the provinces of Quebec or Ontario,
yet the latter will have more potential voice
than the former. Sir John Macdonald, it is
whispered, is chagrined at the New Dominion
being so largely ignored, and left here dissatis.
fed.
CRITICISMS ON THE TREATY.
have been unable to find one that holds
water. Every one have talked with, capable
of forming an Intelligent opinion, declares that
on the showing presented in the semi-offlcial
summary published this morning, there can be
no question of ratification, nor of our being
the gamer thereby. This declaration is as com
mon among democrats as republicans. Some
senators express the fear that the details may
be found when closely scrutinized, to bind us
into more narrow limits on the neutral law than
we are prepared to take. But it seems to me
that this fear arises from being unable to believe
that Great Britain, never yielding hitherto an
iota but what she has been forced to do, now
accord sincerely and without equivocation or
evasion, issues such as are reported to be en-
bodied in the pending treaty. 1t is no wonder
that man, at all conversant with the course of
English diplomacy, should doubt the good faith
which seems to surrender so much. To doubt
is more reasonable than to believe Yet for one
l am disposed to do the latter, and base
my conviction on several grounds, personal to
the principal English commissioner, and politi-
cal as relates to his government Another
criticism suggested is that the fishery matter is
so framed as TO postpone Canadian annexa-
ton. If it were would not care. For one l
am sick of hearing the word annexation"
"Gravitation better expresses my view of the
ideas which should animate any American COM
munities that may hereafter be absolYed in our
republic and become one with US in our federal
Union. If the Canadians don't gravitate
towards us we certainly ought not to desire an
nexation. Bat the objection is born of fears
more likely to excite the hostility of the mari
time provinces against the mother country than
against us, while the reciprocity of fishing
grounds seems to me much more likely to
Amercanize the Provincials than excite them to
chronic dislike. If there be any advantage to
us in those sections, Nova Scotia and New
Brunswick will be far more likely to complain
of those who neglected their interests than of
the party that took care of its own.
THE SPRINGS OF ENGLISH ACTION.
From all have seen and been able to learn,
it seems to me that those whom the British com
missioners represent are in downright earnest
and animated by good faith in desiring the set
Element of all causes of difference, not only be-
cause American hostility or i'll will is a very real
source of danger to the mother country, but
more even because their policy leads them to
seek close and faithful alliance with us for its
own sake. 1t must be remembered that many,
perhaps a majority, of the statesmen now in
England are the disciples of Richard Golden,
one OF the broadcast English minds the century
has produced, especially so in the realm of inter
national law, as it may tend to establish per.
manent peace among nations. He was our
nrm iriend-in a larger sense than John
Bright for his mind was much more con
tnental in character than that Of
his friend and associate, who is mentally of
quite British aud insular type. PERHAPS the
man who moulds the English ministry's policy
more than any other on American questions is
Hon. William Forster, member of the eahine,
and until recently vice president, under Earl dc
Grey, Of the royal privy council, charged espe-
cially with the direction Of all national educa.
tioual matters. The school of which Forster is a
leader believes fully in the idea that Great Brit
ain and the United States are natural allies
They are not likely to leave any stone unturned
to make their belief fact.
Besides, England has no friends in the Euro
pean system just now. IL may not be long be.