Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1872-05-15
Situation of the Treaty.

The associated press dispatch from Wash
ington on Monday, says, the President to-
day transmitted to the Senate the correspond
ence between the United States and Great
Britain relative to the Treaty of Washington,
accompanied with q brief message. The
envelope bore the word 20 confidential A
short time after the reception of the docu
ments the Senate went into Executive
session, when they were read. 1t appears
the design of the President was to ascertain
the views of the Senate as to new article
to the Treaty withdrawing the claims for
consequential damages from the American
statement of the case, with the provision,
which is, in substance, that whenever Eng
land or the United States shall be at war
and the other a neutral, the belligerent will
make no complaints for any indirect, remote
or consequential injuries or losses resulting
| from failure to observe neutral duties. As
/ it is known that Great Britain will agree
1 to the proposed new article, and that both
| Governments are anxious TO save the Treaty
/ by this means, it was thought proper to
| place the Senate in possession of all the facts
in order that the Executive, acting upon
their advice, might pursue the negotiation
so as to secure the contamination of the
Treaty in manner satisfactory to the two
! Governments. There was a brief debate
after the reading of the documents, involv-
ing the merits of the question. A motion
was made to remove the Injunction of secrecy,
but this failed, and the message and docu
ments were then ordered to be printed il
confidence and referred to the Committee or
Foreign Relations. There is scarcely a
question that the Senate will advise the
acceptance of the additional article to the
Treaty.
In the House OF COmm0n on the evening
Of that day Mr. Gladstone made his promised
explanation of negotiations regarding the
indirect claims and of the position taken by
the Government. The House was full and
the galleries crowded Mr.. Gladstone, OF
rising, was greeted with cheers. lie said
IN order to allow an opportunity for dlscus
sion on the statement he was about ID make
be would bring formal motion for the ad-
journment of the Honse.
After alludiDg in terms OF praise to tho
forbearance shown by Parliament during the
controversy, Mr.. Gladstone said he would
begin his narrative Of its progress with the
18th of January, when 1t first became known
to him that the claims for indirect damag re,
had been presented at Geneva IN the Ameri-
can Case Her Majesty's Government pro-
tested on the Sd of February that the in
direct claims were not within the scope OF
the Treaty of Washington nor within the
intention Of either party 10 the Treaty
Secretary Fish replied IN April that be
thought the Geneva Board ought to decide
the entire question. The tone of Mr. Fish :
| dispatch was most courteous. In the near
\ time a communication was received from Mr.
4 Schenck, the American Minister, suggesting
another course which would be acceptable {,
D III This 5rtg
change of notes setting forth the views
terms, and conditions whereon both woul-
agree to proceed to arbitration. We &c
/ ccpted this suggestion, continued Mr.. Glad
stone and carried on the CORES ondence
altogether by telegraph. On Wednesday
the Sth instant. President Grant submlJtel
\ a proposition to the United States Senate.
On Thursday we ascertaIned that TIA,
proposition was not precisely as we under
stood It should be, because of the breyIty 8
\ the cable dispatch on which 1t was based
| On Friday a draft covering the letter OF oul
views was forwarded to Minister Scheuck
and, although long, it was immediately
telegraphed by HIM 70 Washington. Or
Saturday Mr.. Schenck informed Lore
/ Granville that the President had accepte-
and the Senate entertained that draft Air
I Gladstone thought this fact was almost
I equivalent TO a ratification. lie begged tie
further forbearance OF the House nov tuat
the question was approaching satisfactory
issue. honorable alike 10 both nations
successful in this negotiation. Her Majesty
I Government had a right 70 exact praise l,I
settling momentous question. The las
/ proposal On the part OF Great Britain sus
Jained the position taken by the Government
l In the Queen : speech at the beginning %
the present session. Mr. Gladstone, IN con
I .IusI0D SAID he rbOuVht he was NOT r1
sangulne in predicting that the negotiation
would result IN a settlement which would
! rebound TO the credit Of both parties.