The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-05-10
s,gninr OF the Joint High Treaty.

at the Department of State. The gentle.
men, after this was done, exchanged con-
CALCULATIONS on the result Of their labors,
expressing the belief they had done the
most they possibly could for the peace and
honor of the two countries.
A tribunal of arbitration is constituted
to consist of five arbitrators, one to be APP
pointed by the United States, one by
Great Britain, and the other three each by
designated sovereign State of EHrope or
America. Such a tribunal, so composed,
of SO much elevation and character, is
without example, perhaps, in diplomatic
history. The tribunal may either award
damages in detail or in gross, at its discre-
ton or il may refer this duty to board
of assessors sitting 10 the United States,
who shall report from time to time, with
! payment to be made accordingly, and in
The generous spirit Of a power conscious of
its fame and greatness, aud of its capacity
to speak as we'll as to act independently
and rightfully at all times.
The British government frankly ex-
presses its regret for the occurrence of the
incidents complained of by the United
States. For the adjudication of all other
claims of citizens of the United States
against Great Britain, or of the subjects of
| Great Britain against the United States
| during the same period, that is, from the
| 18th of April, 1861, to the 9th Of April,
| 1865. an ordinary mixed commission is
provided to sit at Washington, with an
umpire to be nominated, if necessary, by
designated friendly power. This limita-
| ton of time is material in substance, for
it confines the reclamations against the
United States to the incidents cf actual
war. It is accompanied also with decla-
ration on the part of the British commits
| sioners to the effect of excluding claims on
account of slave property. Statements are
made in some quarters exaggeratlng the
amount of such claims
IF there could be cause in the stipulation
itself to apprehend the presentation of
claims against the United States of any
considerable amount, all such. apprehen-
sions would be dispelled by the consdera-
ton of the attitude Of the British govern
| ment in the matter of claims of British sub
iects arising out of the late war between
| Germany aud France, Lord Granville hav-
| ing, in accordance with the advice Of the
law officers of the crown, given notice to
all parties that foreigners having property
| In France are not entitled to any special
protection therefor, or to exceptions from
military contributions to which they were
| liable in common with the Inhabitants of
| the place in which they resided. W
All legitimate claims for cotton, how
ever, will be considered. 1t is reported
| without warrant that they will amount to
| thirteen or more millions, but this is con-
sidered to be great exaggeration. They
will not probably amount to million of
dollars. There will be no difficulty in as
certaiuing all the particulars, as the trea-
| sury department has full data of all seiz-
ures of cotton, the names of the owners
thereof, aud all the particulars concerning
the seizures. This government is aware
that a full list of British claims was re-
Gently published in that country, but it
also has information that many of them
have been adjusted, while Others will not
come within the provisions of the treaty.
Among the claims which will also come
before this board, will be that of our gov
ernment, growing out Of the purchase Of
saltpetre in the East Indies during the
war, and which was seized by the British
authorities.
There are other miscellaneous claims
which will come before the second board.
The San Juan question will be referred
to the arbitration of friendly sovereign,
probably the Emperor of Brazil. From
the documents which will accompany the
submission, it is believed that the decision
cannot fail to be in favor of the United
States. The treaty provides for the free
navigation of the St. Lawrence river by
vessels Of the United States, and for the
uss Of the Canadian canals upon the pay
ment of regular tolls. IN
There are also provisions regulating
mutual privileges for fishing in Canadian
and United States waters, giving fishermen
free range of bays, rivers, creeks and
coasts, limited only by the local rights of
private property. In word, all the priv
ileges Of the fisheries, navigation and
transit accorded to the United States by
the treaty of 1854 are once more obtained,
and in better form, and without the bur-
densome conditions of that treaty in the
matter of reciprocal importations.
OF the pending subjects of controversy
| between the two governments there re-
mains to be considered the question of the
/ Northwestern boundary line. 1t is to be
remembered that the line of the treaty of
1916 runs by the middle of the channel
which separates the continent from Van
couver's Island, but several such channels
exist. Great Britain contends that the
channel of that treaty is the Rosario
Straits, aud the United States that it is
the Canal de Waro, the two channels
being separated by the Island of San Juan.
This question having once been reported
on by mixed commission, that for the
survey of the line the United States are
not content to refer it to another such COM
mission, nor has it been deemed conve-
nient, even though such tribunal be APP
pointed by friendly sovereign power.
Instead of this, it has been agreed by the
present treaty to submit the question di-
rectly to neutral power, and the Empe-
ror of Germany has been selected for that
purpose.
The government of the United States
has in its hands much documentary evil
dence in support of its pretensons not
heretofore made use of, and on that as we'll
Al II = l. 4.