Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1872-05-14
THE ALABAMA CLAIMS.
Speeches Explanatory Of Present Status
Of Differences Between the
Governments.
Premier Gladstone and Lord Granville
Rise TO ExplaiR-RespOnses Of
the Opposition.
The Secret Correspondence Transmitted
TO the Senate by President
Grant Yesterday.

LONDON, 13.-In the House of Com
mons yesterday evening, Mr. Gladstone
made his promised explanation of the
negotiations regarding the indirect
Alabama claims, and the position taken
by the government. The House was
full, and the galleries crowded. On
rising he was greeted with cheers. He
said:
SIN order to allow an opportunity for
discussion on statements he was about
to make, be would bring formal a mo-
ton for adjournment of the House.
After alluding in terms of praise
TO the forbearance shown by Par
lament during the contrOv ersy
he said he would commence his nara
tive Of its progress with the eighteenth
of January, when il first become known
to him that the claims for indirect dam
ages had been presented at Geneva in
the American case. Her Majesty's gov
eminent protested on the third of Feb
ruary, that the indirect claims were not
within the scope of the Washington
Treaty, nor within the intention of
either party to the treaty. Secretary
Fish replied in April that he
thought the Geneva Board ought
70 decide the entire question. The tone
of Mr.. Fish's dispatches, was most
courteous. In the meantime a COM
municatiOn was received from Mr..
Schenck, American Minister, suggesting
another course which would be accept
able to England and America. This
was the interchange of notes setting forth
the views, terms and condition, whenever
both would agree to proceed with the
arbitration. We accepted this sugges-
ton, continued Mr.. Gladstone, and car
ried on q correspondence altogether by
telegraph. On Wednesday, the eighth
instant, President Grant submitted the
proposition to the United States Senate,
and on Thursday, we ascertained that
the proposition was not precisely as We
understood it should be, because of the
brevity of the cable dispatchesOn on which
il was based. On Friday, dispatch
containing the views of our government
were forwarded by Minister Schenck,
and although, lengthy, ii was immedi-
ately telegraphed by him to Washing
ton. On Saturday, Minister Schenck
informed Lord Granville that the Pres
ident had accepted and the Senate re-
tanned that draft. Mr.. Gladstone
thought that the act was most eqUiva-
lent to a ratification. He begged fur
ther forbearance on the part Of
the House, now that the question
was approaching a satisfactory issue,
honorable alike to both nations. Ifsuc-
cessful in this negotiation, Her Majesty's
Government had a right to exact praise
for settling the mOmentOus question.
The last proposal on the part of Great
! Britain sustained the position taken by
the government i'm the Queens speech
at the beginning Of the present session.
MT. Gladstone, in conclusion, said he
thought he was not too sanguine in pre-
dieting that the negotiations would re-
suit In a settlement which would re-
dOund to the credit of both parties.
As Mr.. Gladstone took his seat there
was loud and repeated cheering from
all parts of the house
D'Israeli followed with thanks to the
Premier for his statement. He should
not seek to embarrass the government.
Whatever differences existed on other
subjects, all parties were united in the
desire for a peaceful and honorable set
tlement.
In the House of Lords, Earl Granville
made statement similar 70 that of Mr..
Gladstone.
Earl Russell again postponed his mo-
ton for an address TO the crown to with
draw from the arbitration. He hoped
the question was no longer one between
the honor of the crown and the re-elec-
ton of President Grant.
Earl Derby and the Duke Of Rich
smond expressed the hope that the new
proposition of the British Government
was unambiguOus They had heard
enough Of misunderstanding