Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-06-29
Anon, the Arbitratien.

The controversy between the United States
and Great Britain, about indirect damages, has
at last been settled; and settled, too, by the
court of arbitration. The English government
took the ground, that the claim for such dam
ages was not allowed by the treaty and could
not 90 to that court; that the srbitrators had no
jurisdiction over it and were not authorized to
take it into consideration. at must be with
drawn" said Earl Granville and Mr.. Gladstone,
cor we will not proceed with the arbitration"
The supplemental article" was not satisfactory
TO them, really, because it did not Withdraw the
claim for indirect damages, or provide for hav-
ing it withdrawn. This being the English posi-
ton, it was generally expected that
the arbitration and the treaty would
fail. Our government refused positively
TO withdraw the claim, insisting that lit
was properly in our Cease" and,must 90 to the
court Of arbitration and abide the Judgment of
the arbiTators. Now we have the result. The
English ministers did not do what they threat
ened; the arbitrators did assume jurisdiction
over the question in dispute; the claim did go
10 them for consideration and judgment, and
the judgment has been given; thus the Ameri-
can position in the dispute has been sustained,
and England accepts the situation. Nobody in
this country has supposed there would be an
award ofindirect damages; our government ex-
planned very fully, during the controversy, that
this was not expected, and that nothing was
sought but judgment of the arbitrators, for
use in the future. This has been secured.
The controversy is due wholly to partisan in
"a, l.
colleagues did not think of starting such a dis
pute, until the tories began to misrepresent the
indirect claims question, and make a noise over
it for political effect. Since that time, all the
proceedings of the British ministry have been
conducted with a view to the maneuvers of a
partisan fight, the tories aiming to break down
the ministry, and Mr.. Gladstone and his asso-
ciates seeking TO maintain themselves in power.
A withdrawal of the claim for indirect damages
was demanded, not because they really thought
it should be Withdrawn, bat because compliance
with their offensive demand would have given
the ministry an overwhelming triumph over the
tories. The same influence has operated in this
country 10 embarrasS the negotiation. The op-
position have watched the question diligently
hoping for an opportunity to get up an
cutlery against the administration. The New
York Tribune and the New York World made
all the noise they could over Grants Surrender
to john Bull, and could not bring themselves
TO treat the matter with candor Nevertheless,
we feel sure that the editor of the World, in
pursuing this course violated his own convic-
tons of what is just and honorable; for he
has sometimes shown himself capable of treat
ing questions connected with our foreign rea-
tiens with proper regard to the public welfare
1t is a satisfaction to know that the unscrupu-
lous partisanS who would have sacrificed the
treaty, and American honor itself, TO support
their corrupt intrigues, have gained nothing by
their conduct. The arbitration will now 90 for
ward without further interruption, and the
alabama question" will be settled honorably,
as the treaty provides