New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-07-04
THE TREATY OF WASHINGTON.


QUESTIONS IN THE BRITISH HOUSE OF LORDS.
On the Goth of june in the House of Lords
of Great Britain Lord Cairns TO ask the Secretary
OF state for Foreign Affairs why the date OF the 9th Of
April 1865 was inserted in the Washington Treaty as
the limit Of time for British claims and what was to be
claims arising from the occurrences after that
date and before the termination OF the American civil
lie said hs ques ton had reference to claims other
than the Alabama claims, to be made on the part OF
sn fuoefSs e sgst 'e tbey must have arisen
described in this way: "1he period between the
wished to know why the latter date had been adopted.
Several British subjects had communicated Win MIN
respecting the manner IN which they affected by
the insertion OF this date. and he would take as an eL
ample British mercantile firm NJ NewOfleans, Wncl
closed their transactions at the beginning OF the war ana
realized their funds. Owing TO the Inconvenience or re
hitting money In the ordinary they invested the
funds in cotton TO be shipped at the close OF the war,
which the most convenient mode at that time OF re-
mitting money 10 England On the 18th on April, Two
days after the date fixed by the Treaty their cotton was
burned and they considered whether rightly or
wrongly he did not say, that they mad claim agns t
be entitled TO make If it were not that they were
precuded by the date named in the Treaty., lie had
vany endeavored to find ont what could be the reason
for fixing upon that date The question arose could
be that OF the termination OF the war but hat cOud NOT
bebecause the Goth OF April Gen. Johnston eonnahd
ing the Confederate army entered into convention
with Gen. sherman Of the United states army Tor sur
render certain conditions of the Confederate forces
bnt these terms were repudated by Cen Sherman GOV
eminent, and the consequence was the uncOnIillohi
surrender OF the Confederate army Therefore the Ope
ratons of war were going that date There was no
limit I'm point OF time in reference to the Alabama claims,
and England knew that, after the date mentioned ana
after be surrender OF the Confederate forces ships In
different parts OF the world continued their operations,
and it suggested that they were guilty OF piracy Az
all events every claim made I'm consequence or their acs
might be pu forward under this Treaty without limit ~
seemed to him strange and unfair that British SUBJECTS
should be limited to date which short OF the cOu-
cusOn OF the war; and that, the other hand there
should be no limit the claims against England IN re-
spect OF the Alabama. Under these circumstances ne
should be glad to know how the limitation III the treaty
arose. 49,,
In reply Earl Granville said the Commissioners dated
of the bombardment of Fort sumter and the CONCLUSION
of the from the surrender of Gen Lee, Whch put
an end to the Confederate Government ana whlcn was
considered the final act Of the II the persons re-
fcrred TO by the noble and learned lord, from whom also
he had received letters, had their cotton burned Few
days after the date named they not deDared rom
making their claim against the American Governments
He could hardly conceive that the American Govern
ment would refuse to meet claim OF TINS kndi ndeeu
he should think that it would be regarded as mnch
stronger than If IL had arisen during the war WIN
regard to these claims generally there was an dd-
vantage the side Of England, for there was no de-
barring clause whatever with respect TO BRUSH claims
but American claims strictly confined to those aris
ing out of the war. His ordShp understood to sug
gest that the United States Government should ne COM
muncated with respecting the claims In question Earl
de Gray and Ripon understood to say that these
claims having after the termination or the war
would fall under the ordinary conditions Of peace; and
as the Commission had decided in favor OF such claims
which arose during the war; aud the United States Gov
eminent had agreed to the date taken as mat OF the
termination Of the war, he should think that these Brit
ish subjects would he regarded having claim all the
stronger because ii had arisen after the termination O
he "a