New-York tribune., 1871-03-27
GENERAL FOREIGN NEWS.
ENGLAND.
ENGLAND.
ANXIETY ABOUT TIE JOINT HIGH COMMISSION
THE AMERICAN RELIEF FUND.


LONDON March 81 need scarcely say that the
worl, Of the Joint High Commission is followed
from this side with very close attention So are the
motions aud speeches in Congress, aud the utter
ances Of American and Canadian newfpapcrs, and
every word and act bearing on Che regulations arc
1crutinizcd even anXiously. 1t is odd, but
-.ho Euglsh seem almost as nervous about the
effect of American hosptalities on their Com
u,issioucr5 as they say We were ab0ut hf'
Hevcrdy johnson. They might be less con-
cerned if they knew what had dinners the Washing
ton hotels give. On the other hand, the influence OF
dining upon diplomacy seems not to have been over
looked by the Commissioners themselves. one or
whoul-T viii not say whic-tooi, his Own cook With
him, COOK exceedingly well known il London.
1Ae men about town who know his merits are
among the most eager Of men for the immediate set
tlemcnt Of all the controversies pending before the
Commission. More than ore opicuro has been heard
to express a doubt whether any advantage TO be
hoped for from this diplomacy viii repay London Tor
the temporary loss of an artist wlo ranks alnost
with SOyer aud Francatclli.
But what troubles serious people al least as mnCh
as the exile Of n famous cook is the talk about Can
ada They cannot understand the easy stateEnan-
ship which characterizes certain Senator's and Rep
rescntatycs an Congress. 1hey are at loss 10 hear
whai ia the real significance Of resolution intro
duccd III The -enGte recommending the Commission
to consider 1ada in the light of an obstacle TO the
permanent h uony 81 the two Governments. The
Great organ g. the well-tO-do Philistine makes its
protest with promptitude and onorEyp to use i;s
own phrase, or in It's "ine, full-mouthed fashion"
to use hr. Matthew Arnold's. 1t is always so.
Whenever an American get Up on the floor OF either
House aud says Canada, there follows on tins side, II
Imay once more borrow Air. Matthew Arnold's COM
. 4 ,xgr,lr. of
siols prejudices stock ioLbing newspaper articles,
chatter, and general ignorance" Or course, ticy
cxaggeIa.o the importance Of such demonstrations as
We have lately had in Congress and they cxaggrato
IL because they Judge Of them as they would judge
Of similar demonstrations in Parliament Let
leading member Of the dominant party in tie House
Of Commons offer resolution suggesting that tho
possession by the United States cf the southern por
ton OF the continent Of North America is in its ycyy
nature an Obstacle to tho permanent harmony OF ie
two Governments one Of two things would fol-
low-ei,her he would be understood to express
determination arrived at by his party, Of which he
had been appointed spokesman, or he would
completely Lose Lis rank in the party, ana
his place in the Government, il he held one
lam fer from sayiug that Enclgh politicians arc
more conscientious OF more jndicious than American
politicians. but 60 cay that they speak under
thoueht sufficient in Congress. Whether the in-
fuenee of such feeling be beneficial not, it IS not
for me to decide. All have to point out is that 'ho
feeling does exist here, and that Engshnen ha'ui-
ally assume that it exists in equal degree among
their American cousins and that this assumption
loads them TO ascrbe 60 Congress uttcrances
the same Importance which they know belongs tn
Parliamentary utterances. No doubt they are
gradually learning different lesson, OF learning to
make exceptions. They have got over the notion
which once prevailed that resolution by Mr. Chan
der, OF his colleague, is soon to be followed by
declaration Of war from President Grant, or that
voteof welcome by the Lower House TO tho Fenian
exiles is an immediate forerunner of the Liberation
of Ireland. What they have not cot over, and are
not likely TO get over is the irritation arising ont Of
such nets. So that it may be worth while for Mr.
Chandler and Gen. Batter TO consider in advance OF
their next movement precisely how much difficulty
tlcv really desire 20 throw in the way OF settle
mont between the countries. That they have no
sucb desire fully believe but the point for them 10
dacile is whether they wish Engi hInen 10 believe
il also.
It remains true that England cares little or
nothing for Canada as part Of the Empire, and
that rhe will be very glad to sever the connection
when Canada herself intinates wish 10 60. But 1t
IL certain that she will not cede Canada to us against
thc wishes Of The Canadian people and tiat any
ding like menace or even impatience on our pant
will be resented aud viii postpone the possibility Of
ocouiring Canada otherwise than by war. Those Of
our people therefore, who banker after British teri
tory on the American continent Ought to make mp
their minds in the light Of facts clearly before thein
Two. and only two, courses are open TO u.s. We can
wait till Canada wants to come to u.s. and so receive
her with friendly God-speed from England; or
we can decide that we will annex Canada
hv force without regard either 10 the
wishes of her pcople or the viii OF the
English nation; in which case weshall, DO Mt doubt,
possess ourselves Of the territory and hold tat the
nrce of the most dreadfGl war We have ever wagod.
Retween these two there is middle course and
none can be made for by resolutions in one House
or syagQer in the other SO lar as these Latter have
any influence whatever, they tend directly to war
If that is what th6 authors of them want they will
keen ON in that line though it might be question
whether a more dignifed path, and shorter one,
could not be found leading to the same end. Mean
time il will not be difficult for the American people
10 understand that, to those who pursue sneh pol
ley. Canada is only pretext, and war tie true
object.
Aletter from Mr. Henry 7. left here last
week in charge Of the AmeTican-fIench hteif uhd'
reports his arrival at Dieppe and his interviews There
with the Mayor and other leading citizens. lie
found them engaged in distributing what money
they could get among the destitute OF their own ci
zens Among some classes the distress is consldeI-
bic, and. as Dieppe is not wealthy town. and has
had to pay heavily to the Prussans It's present
means are not great. Dir. Parker put $1,000 INTO the
MAYORS hands which was received with expressions
of gratitude seemingly out OF proportion Ia The
amount. But the French make little money 80
great way, and Ar rafkers $1,000 viii represent TO
many poor people the difference between