The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-05-25


before the arbitrators At the Cabinet of the Goth
OF January the matter was virtually settled; and on
the I'd OF February division was taken, and the
terms OF the note which was to address to General
Schenck were settled and approved. With regard
to the delay thus incurred, can only repeat what
shy now that Il the thing was to be done over again,
which has been passed upon it, should have deeply
regretted II we had taken action the earlier
than we did, l believe, both in substance and in
appearance, nothing was 80 much to be deprecated
as our appearing to act under the impulse Of tenn
per pllue instead OF after full and very careful
elaboration (Cheers.) My Lords,
THE LETTER WHICH WROTE TO GENERAL soHENCK
was very short. It was courteous in terms, cour
pressed strong desire to maintain the treaty In
short, think 1t deserved the description which has
been somewhat commented upon since, , but rom from
friendly communication In that commune
cation used almost exactly the same
use in her speech from the throne In refer.
ence to our understanding OF what was the scope
only diiierencc was that instead Of the word .un.
derstand" we used the word ''hold." That letter
was courteously acknowledged by General Schencx,
and In due course Of time he communicated to mo
a despatch RON General Fish In reply That de.
spatch objected to the position we heidi and ad-
herring to
THE POSITION WHICH THE UNITED STATES
had taken upon the matter, maintained that the
indirect claims was matter which must go before
the arbtrators. In short he entirely adhered TO
the position which had been frat taken up, and
gave at no inordinate length In favor OF the
position the United States government had adopted.
10 this letter Her Majesy's government thought it
was necessary to make q full and comprehensive
reply. we thought y was only fair TO the United
the reasons which induced ne to come TO the deter
Mutation ut which IL had arrived. Idly despatch was
ordshps' patience to read it, and II is impossible,
In the compass OF statement Ike this. 10
give very accurate account OF the arguments We
brought forward / think il sufficient to say that
In that despatch VIII be found mnlment OF the
assurance gave on the irst nisht OF the session
that we could prove that IL had always peen our
intention to exclude the indirect claims nom the
treaty twhichl apprehend some OF your lordships
will doubt)--that we had always been OF opinion
that The Indirect claims were 10 Ne excluded from
the treaty, and that we had grounds TO suppose
that that was the Intention of the government of
much doubted-that the treaty itself absolutely en-
cludes such indirect claims nom the arbitration.
l think the next stage In the proceedings was the
presentation Of our counter case, IN the manner
have already alluded TO. Very soon after came the
General senenek 81 tie Character Of thai answer
| have already informed your lorisGlps. Ii SIN
adhered 70 The case presented y the United STATS
tioa-of the arguments We had used but len tae
case exactly as IT was. II appeared 10 show that
An IRREcoNcILABLE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THs
TWO COUNTRIES,
tions. II now your iordshps viii allow me to so
back little, may say that have no doubt you
months and General schenok held aoof from each
other. We were in constant communication, en-
deavoring TO find some solution honorable and
satisfactory TO both countries; and | here feel
bound to bear testimony to the American Minister
that although he always strenuously SUPPORTED the
views OF his government, as he was bound TO do.
he has throughout these negotiations evinced an
earnest and sincere desire to maintain the treaty
and prevent any disturbance OF the most friendly
relations between the two countries. by lords, as
regards these communications, they came to
nothing: MADE some suggessiions 70 tae american
of one character and not likely to be acceptable
to the United States government. He made here /
large number Of suggestions as to the mode Of set
Ting the difficulty. Some OF these were obviously OF
a character perfectly unacceptable to Her Majesty's
There were others which at all events
deserved the careful consideration OF the govern
ment although all upon examination failed to meet
the exigencies OF the case. And am bound to say
which were most obviously unacceptable, they gen.
orally followed some suggestions which were made
In this country a. TO the mode OF settling these diff
gested that
WE MIGHT SETTLE THE MATTER BY TRIrLrIG PAY
OF five or six millions, or some sum OF that kind,
than the very next day General Schenck came to
sound me as to whether some arrangement for q |
small sum might not remove all the difficulty. | |
will now come to the time when, without giving an |
assurance informed your ordships that Her Maj
esty's government had grounds for hopes as to the
settlement Of this Misunderstanding.
This statement to your lordshps arose from com
2sth OF April, in the first place conaden-
TALLY, and afterwards officially, by the American
could not have been accepted by the government,
but it was proposal which did appear to afford a
States proposed that the arrangement should be |
carried out by an interchange of notes. Acting on
that, was pfepaIed note stating our views as 70
WE REVISED AND ALTERED,
We wishing nothing but to keep meaning per-
ectly clear while also wishing to propose nothing
which the United States might find 1t difficult TO
adopt. When had finally settled that note-I think
II was on the sth OF May-Igot communication from
General schenck, in which he informed me that he
had received telegram from Mr.. Fish, stating that
although the President thought it possibly within
his constitutional powers 10 agree to the note we
had sketched ont, yet he thought our note went be-
You'd what in his individual capacity, he could &C
cept He thought 1t preferable to
FRAME AN ADDITIONAL ARTICLE TO THE TREATY,
which might effect the object we had in view, and
which he might submit to the Senate for their sane
lion. We had some difficulty in acceding to propo-
But we thought that any question OF principles
would have been perfectly ridiculous, and that il
The difficulty was great and II took q considerable
time. We thought 1t better that we should clearly
ana at once show that to which we were willing to
consent, and the limits OF that consent. That draft
article was sent by me TO General Schenck, and was
by him transmitted to Mr.. Fish, with the declaration
that If the United states government were prepared
to adopt snch an article, we part were ready
to accept 1t. was informed yesterday by General
schenck that he had received telegram from Mr
Fish, stating that he had submitted that altcle to
the President, and that 1t was the intention OF the
presldentto submit it to the Senate understand
tudt HI IHlb tHOuleut SeIatc are Ill secret exc
cutlve session TO consider that article. (IIear,
hear) Your lordshps VIII perceive that 1t is
IMPOSSIBLE FOR ME- TO GIVE YOUR LoRDsHIPs ANY
ASSURANCE OF TuE SETTLEMENT
Of this affair." II Is impossible for me to speak OF
what the action OF the Senate may be; but what
understand Is that according to all the rules and
practices OF the American constitution, the fact of
the President having submitted this proposal to the
senate indicates that he is willing, II the Senate
Will agree, to carry out the article. Your lordships
will feel that 1t would be improper for me to give
Your lordships greater detail at q time when
this Is under The consideration not Of legislative
body ike the House OF Lords or House OF Commons,
but OF Senate which In its peculiar position be-
comes part OF the executive government for this
hopes have greatly increased OF arriving at SETTLE
ment which | believe In my heart will be satsfac-
tory to your lordsnips and the country, and which,
moreover am or opinion will be honorable to the
government OF the United states. five do succeed
Her MaJesty's government will take no credit for
the fact OF that success We have bcen