The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1871-02-10
THE FISHERIES, ALABAMA CLAIMS,
ETC.

WE published yesterday, exclusively, among
the evening journals of Philadelphia, full
details of the important correspondence re-
lating to a new method for adjusting the
questions at issue with Great Britain, which
was sent to the Senate by the President, as
we'll az the names of the American commits
sioners. This correspondence, and the prompt
action taken by both governments in appoint
ing commissioners, indicate that we may
be on the eve of settlement of all irritating
questions. 1t is a hopeful sign that the
negotiations are to be conducted at Washing
ton instead of London, for repeated failures
to arrive at satisfactory conclusions at the
British capital indicate that its atmosphere is
not conducive to acceptable negotiations. OF
our two latest ministers at the Court of St.
James, one (Reverdy Johnson) was over
whelmed by British Establishments, while the
other (Motley) took the opposite course of
making extreme and unnecessarily offensive
demands.
We shall soon see whether the air of Wash
ington proves more favorable and auspicious.
1t will at least possess one advantage, for it
will afford opportunities for promptly testing
American sentiment as the negotiations pro-
gress, and for ascertaining what will, aud
what will not, be likely to be ratified by the
Senate.
The idea of appointinga joint high COM
mission, and of having it deliberate at Wash
ington, originated with the British Govern
ment, but they only proposed to confine it's
action to the fishery question and other ques
tions affecting the relations between the
United States and the New ID 1minion. The
American Government at once assented to
the proposition, provided the commission
would also be empowered to settle the Ala
bama claims, etc. The British Government,
in response, said the commission might also
consider the Alabama claims, provided "all
other claims, both Of British subjects and
citizens of the United States, arising out of
acts committed during the recent civil war
in this country, are similarly referred to the
same commission" The last proposition was
assented TO by the President, with the sug-
gestion or proviso that "the high commits
sioners shall consider only such claims of this
description as may be presented by the Gov
ernments of the respective claimants at an
early day to be agreed upon by the commits
sioners."
N "Aoo oOoPo ~ Ihub gwen 10 the cOmmig-
sion, and although it is impossible to fore
shadow with precision the course of its pro-
ceedings, it is probable that the representa-
tiVes of Great Britain will aim at the follow.
ing objects, VIII. To insure a restoration
of the Reciprocity treaty, establishing practi-
cal free trade between the United States and
Canada 2. To establish against our Govern
ment, az an offset to the Alabama claims, a
claim of the British holders of the Confede-
rate bonds sold in England during the war,
TO the amount subscribed by them in whole
or part; and also the claims of sundry British
merchants, ship-owners, ETC., who allege that
they have made over-payments to or lost
money by the action of the American Govern
ment.
On the other hand, the American com.
missioners will probably resist, under all
contingencies, recognition in any shape of
the British Confederate loan they will pro,
baby give but little encourag ement to any