The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-04-19

eminent as shall render reoccupation or war
unnecessary.
The Alabama Claims Question-Eng-
lands Counter Case i'm Geneva.
A synopsis of the English counter case
against the American demand for compensa-
ton for damages inflicted on the national COM
MERGE and the naval interests of the republic
generally by the Alabama and other British
built or British-equipped privateers during the
progress of the war for the Union reached us
from London by cable last night. The sum-
mary is made up from the Foreign Office plea
of defence which has been delivered
to the Arbitration Court in Geneva in
the name of Earl Granville, with the
consent Of Queen Victoria. Mr.. Gladstones
government sets out its declaration with pro-
fession of the Hberavi animama-a solemn avowal
of the absence Of evil intent. The Queens Cabi-
net will not reply to American imputations Of
hostile motives and of insincere neutrality. A
sense of self-respect compels Great Britain to
refuse, distinctly, to enter into discussion of
these insinuations. Allegations of this char
acter are irrevelant to the main issue and tend
to infame the controversy. In such words,
port, England publishes very sweeping
preface to her argument. She brushes
away, it must be confessed, a large
amount Of infammable drift and finder which
was liable to ignition by the application of
very slight spark. Having accomplished this
work, to her own satisfaction at least, Her
Majesty the Queen is made to come to the
treatment of the more solid portion of the sub
ject-to discussion Of the points which are
likely to furnish matter for some future Livy to
write Of in elaboration when speaking Of the
debts and duties Of the nations and rulers of
our day.
The first sentence in this part Of the coun-
ter case announces that no reference will
be made to the subject of indirect damages
in Geneva, for the reason that correspondence
on that special point is now pending between
the governments of Great Britain and the
United States This resolution, if persevered
in, will detract vastly from the force of the
public interest which attaches to the proceed
ings of the Arbitration Court in Europe and
feeling both in the Old World and the New
towards Washington. England presumes that
the American claims for direct losses are lin
tied to those incurred by the four most notori-
Gus Of the Confederate privateers,
but Her Majesty does not object to the intro
ducton of the names of nine others by the
government in Washington. Whether this
agreeable acceptance comes as the result of
conviction and contrition for repentance and
atonement or as an evidence of recklessness
or defiance remains to be seen. The cases of
the Boston and Salle may have been included
in the list Inadvertently in the American
capital. What the exact meaning Of this SEN
tence is we cannot say, but we incline to the
opinion that it is intended and used in slightly
satircal sense, and perhaps with the
view of imputing against our people or
Ministers the indirect charge of entertaining
motives for ''piling on the agony" The
arbitrators are enjoined as to their judicial
functions with regard to the nature of the tes-
timony and cautioned-this in connection with
the preface-against the acceptance of hearsay,
of rumor and of ill-founded report and garbled
statement. At this point the Foreign Secre-
tary of Great Britain comes out in full official
tilt against whole army Of minor officials
of the United States who were serving abroad
during the war of the rebellion, and endeavors
to clear away their consular records and state
ment, with q stroke of his Downing street pens
pretty much after the fashion Of Joachim
Murat in his personal action against the Cars
Cossacks during the period of the advance of
the army of Napoleon the Great towards Mos
COW. Murat was wont to exclaim,
'Get out Of my way, you crawlers," and
we greatly fear that the most noble
Earl Granville entertains about the same
sentiment towards number of embryo states
men and diplomats in America rs did the
French cavalry commander towards the horse
men of the invaded. But, then, where was
Murat after, with Moscow in ashes2 and where
NAV be Granville and Gladstone officially
when the arbitrators have shaken the ashes Of
the pipe of peace" on the floor of the council
room in Geneva? SO may the men,
ory Of our American consuls abroad
be rectifed England next alleges that
neutral Power Is not bound to
municipal law at the dictum of belli-
gerent. Here-and subsequently in the coun-