The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-05-18

full and clear explanation Of the delicate and
difficult work embodied In the great Treaty OF
! Washington, in the conflicting propositions
and debates upon each of the several questions
involved. and an explanation, too, ofthe mutual
concessions made in the final agreement be-
tween the high contracting parties.
1t appears from the official journal Of the
Commission that its first formal meeting was
on the 9th Of February, and that having,
after several intermediate meetings, cleared
the ground for action, the American Commits
sioners, at the conference on the 9Th Of March,
plunged boldly into the merits of the main
questionable Alabama claims. They stated
that 'the people and government of the United
States felt that they had sustained o great
wrong, and that great injuries and losses were
inflicted upon their commerce and their mate
rial interests by the course and conduct of
Great Britain during the recent rebellion in
the United States; that what has occurred
in Great Britain and her colonies during that
period had given rise to feelings in the United
States which the people of the United States did
not desire 10 cherish toward Great Britain; that
the history Of the Alabama and other cruisers
which had been fitted out or armed or
equipped, or which had received augmentation
of force In Great Britain or in her colonies,
and of the operations of those vessels
showed extensive direct losses in the capture
and destruction of large number of vessels,
with their cargoes, and in the heavy national
expenditures in the pursuit of the cruisers and
indirect injury in the transfer Of large part
of the American commercial marine to the
British flag, in the enhanced payments of nsur-
ance, In the prolongation of the war, and in
| the addition of large sum to the cost of the
| war and the suppression Of the rebellion and
also showed that Great Britain, by reason of
| failure in the proper observance Of her duties
| as q neutral, had become justly liable for the
acts of those cruisers and of their tenders
| that the claims for the loss and destruc-
ton Of private property which had thus far
been presented amounted to about fourteen
millions of dollars, without interest," which
amount was liable to be greatly increased by
| claims which had not been presented; that the
| cost to which the government had been put in
the pursuit or cruisers could easily be ascer-
| tanned by certificates OF government account
ing officers; that in the hops of an amicable
settlement no estimate was made Of the in
direct losses, without prejudice, however, to
the right to indemnifcation on their account
in the event of no such settlement being made.
The American Commissioners further stated
that they hoped that the British Commissioners
would be able to place upon record an express
sion Of regret by her Majestys government for
the depredations committed by the vessels
whose acts were now under discussion; they
also proposed that the Joint High Commission
should agree upon sum which should be paid
by Great Britain to the United States in salts
faction Of all the claims and the interest there
on"
Here, it will be observed, that in breaking
ground upon the Alabama claims the Ameri-
can Commissioners did not mince the matter,
but put their case, without reservation, upon
its merits, and suggested certain conditions
essential to a satisfactory adjustment, And
how were they met by the other side? BY
substantially the old argument of Lord Claren-
don and his plea of ''not guilty" to the gen.
eral indictment. The British reminded the
American Commissioners, too, that several
vessels suspected of being designed to cruise
against the United States, including two IRON
clads, had been arrested or detained by the
British government, and that that government
had in some instances not confined itself To the
discharge of international obligations, however
widely construed, as, for instance, when it
acquired, ct a great cost to the country, the
control Of the Anglo Chinese fotilla, which, it
was apprehended, might be used against the
United States" &c. But for the sake of peace
Great Britain upon this subject had been and
was ready to submit it to arbitration. The
American Commissioners replied that they
were not prepared for arbitration, unless the
principles by which the arbitrator should be
| governed were laid down, in the form of rules
or instructions, as to the duties of neutrals in
the future, such rules to be applicable to the
| Alabama claims.
| The treaty furnishes the compromise agreed
upon. Great Britain, adhering to her plea Of
mot guilty" in the matter Of these Alabama
claims, expresses, I'm friendly spirit, the
regret felt by her Majesty's government for the
escape, under whatever circumstances, of the
| alabama, &C., and agrees to the three rules
proposed for the government of the two coun-
tries as neutrals in the future and, further
more, while still contending that these rules
cannot be applied to the Alabama and her
Confederate Anglo-rebel cruisers, they shall
still govern the arbitration in the settlement of
these Alabama claims. We have certainly,
looking at the difficulties bridged over, moth
ing to complain Of in this agreement; for if
England is satisfied with the shadow we ought
to be satisfied with the substance Of the prin-
ciples involved.
From nrofocol fhirfu..ix a nnxt a..o..-