The New York herald., 1871-02-10

this country similarly referred 10 the same COM
mission. The expr assions made use OF In the name
OF the President In your above mentioned
note " an regard to the alabama claims' convince
me that the government OF the United states VIII
consider it Of Importance that these causes OF
dispute between the two countries should
also ana ut the same time be doue away
wirh and that you VIII enable me to convey 10 my
government the assent OF the President 70 the add
tion which they thus propose to the duties OF the
high commission, ana which cannot tall TO make 1t
more certain It's abors will lead 10 the removal
OF all differences between the two countries,
have the honor to be, with the highest con.
siderarion SIR, your most obedient humble servant
EDWARD THORNTON.
The Hon. HAMILTON FISH, &c &C., &c.
Mr.. fish To sir Edward Thornton.
DEPARTMENT or STATE, |
WASHINGTON, Feb. 8, 1871.
SrR-I have thu honor to acknowledge the receipt
OF your note OF the LIST instant In which you INFORM
that you authorized 10y Earl Granville to state
that IL would give her Maesty's government great
satis faction IL the claims commonly known oy the
name of the 'Albama claims' were submitted
10 the consideration OF the same high com.
mission by which her Majesty's government
have proposed that the questions relating to
the British possessions in North America.
should discuss ell, provided that all other calns
both OF British subjects ana citizens Of the United
States arising ont OF acts committed during the re-
cent civil In this country, are similarly referred
to the same committee. have laid your note be-
fore the President, and he mas directed me to ex-
press the satisfaction with which he has received
the intelligence that Earl Granville has authorized
you to state that her Majesty's government
has accepted the views OF this government
as TO the disposition to be made of
A.
directs me to say, with reference TO the remainder
OF your note. that II there be other and further
claims OF Brtlsh subjects or OF American citizens,
growing out OF acts committed during the recent
civil war in this country nc assents TO the propriety
OF their reference TO the same high commission; but
ne suggests that the high commissioners shall con-
slider only such claims OF this description as may be
presented by tue governments OF TIE respective
claimants at an early day to be agreed upcn by the
commlss oners.
have the honor TO be, with the highest consid.
Grafton, sir, your ooedent servant,
HAMILTON FISH.
Sir Ed WARD THORNTON, K. c. b., &C., &c.
The Verbal Proceedings in the Negotiations
What Is 10 be Adjudicnted Upon by the
Commssion.-The Navigation Of the st.
Lawrence, the san Juan Boundary and the
Feniun Damages in Canada to be Dis
cussed.
WASHINGTON, Feb. Q, 1871.
The Presidents message sent to the Senate to-day
upon the subject Of JOINT commission 10 adjust oil
outstanding questions between the Unitea states
and Great Britain substantially confirms the state
ments published In the HERALD. The commission
on the part OF the United States was al first n
tended to consist Of but three members. Yester-
day this was changed TO five members and General
Schenck included In the list, contrary TO the origt
nal idea. Necessarily the correspondence Is very
brief, as only mucho oi the various interviews be-
tween Sir Edward Thornton ana Mr. Fish as It was
necessary to reduce to wiring has been submitted
to the Senate. In these interviews Sir John Rose
appeared as the representative Of Canadian In.
terests.
Sir Edward Thornton's proposition was to include
in the matters to be submitted to the Comm.s-
sion the question Of the liability OF the
United States for the Confederate uebt. Be
i3g informed that such consideration or
quasi recognition Of the rebel debt would be ulcon
stitutiona on the part Of tie United States 1T was
dropped at once. Upon several occasions the
British representative ssired Mr.. Fish that the
question Of the fisheries would not be permitted to
annoy the United states In the future the British
government had authorized him to say that the
freedom Of the tlshure fisheries would be extended
to US urcondltionay. That is, II was
be instructed to restore the license system. This. Of
course, does not appear tie message Or CORES
pondence, as it at present is regarded merely
informal promise given evidence of the desire or
England 10 remove all future cause Of Ill feeling.
The first proposition made by STR Edward Thornton
looked only to the appointment OF COM
mission to adjudcate the questions between the
United states and Canada ss set forth Ill the
Presidents Message. Upon being informed OF the
willingness OF cur government to view the sugges
tion Of commission favorably, provided ali CUES
tions between us and Great Britain were included
and especially the Alabama difficulty, the British
government assented by cable, and hence the full
nature Of the inquiries which win come before the
joint commission. The questions are:-
Frst--The Alabama claims and all matters con.
nected with the conduct OF England during our civil
war.
SeconG--The fisheries question, which embraces
our claims for Illegal seizures ana imprisonment Of
our citizens since the abrOgatton by Canada oi the
license system last year. The commission Will also
determine the question OF the rights Of American
fishermen under the treaty Or 1918, and adjust,
II possible. the pretensions cl the u ominiol
to the headland construction, by which they
claim The right under the treaty TO exclude
our fishermen from the Boy of Fundy, the Bay Of
Claleur and outside Of a lice drawn from the ey-
trome neadlands Of the Nova Scotia coast, a con-
struction which, If enforced, would, in many in
stances, exclude our fishermen from going within
sixty miles OF the absolute coast, and thus nuiy
that provision OF the treaty which provided that in
cases OF distress by weather, &C., our
sells can seek shelter In the haroors of
the British North American possessions, with the
exception OF the Bay OF Fundy. This extraordinary
"headandn construction was never attempted 80 be
enforced and as regards the Bag Of Fundy Lord
Aberdeen, on the part or England, in 1S45 waived the
enforcement (while claiming, nevertheless that ii
was correcD upon the spirited remonstrance OF the
American government In the case VI the
seizure OF the American fishing schooner, Martha
Washington While the voluntary promise has
been given that the license system shall be restored,
yet IL Is important that the proper construction OF
the treaty OF 1873 should be deGnltively adjusted.