Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-06-22
The Geneva Arbitration.


GENEVA, June 21.-rhe representatives of
Great Britain before the Alabama claims arbi-
tration tribunal have gone to ChamouniX, where
they will stay until tomorrow. The Americans
have not left for Paris as they intended doing,
but remain in this city
Ii is believed that the reason for this change
in the programme for the movements Of the
representatives is that supplementary articles
to tue treaty upon totally new basis from the
one submitted 10y Granville, ale now the subject
of negotiations between the English and Amer
lean governments. The chances Tor satislac-
tory issue from the difficulties which now sur
round the arbitration are believed TO be increaS-
ing.
WASHINGTON, June 21.-FrOm the latest re-
liable information received here, there is no
reason to believe, as stated in recent Geneva
telegram, that supplementary articles of the
treaty of Washington, upon totally new basis
from the ones submitted by Earl Granville, are
now the subjects Of negotiation between the
British and American governments. On the
contrary, there is truth in the allegation that at
the next meeting of the arbitratrators the an
nOuncement will be made that the question of
indirect damages is settled. There is the best
reason for believing that at their brief session
on the 18Th the arbitrators decided that such
claims cannot properly come before them and
they must therefore be excluded. On this an
nouncement being formally made on the 26th
inst, 1t is not apprehcnded that there will he
any further difficulty i'll proceeding with the
business under the treaty.
From the commencement of the controversy,
ever since tie American statement of the case
was submitted to the tribunal, the British have
commended that none but direct claims were
known as the Alabama claims and that the
indirect losses were mentioned by the American
high commissioners, not as claims, but as grieY-
ances; and were mentioned only to be with
drawn from the discussion. Our government,
on the other hand, has always commended that
these claims were within the province of the
tribunal, and it therefore adhered to and never
contemplated their withdrawal, il beng con-
sdered necessary TO present them in order TO
have a decision, and prevent them from being
brought up hereafter TO disturb the harmony Of
the two nations. 1t is known that the supple
mental article to the treaty of Washington was
proposed in order to relieve the two nations
from their antagonistic positions, but
while the parties have been in correSpon-
dence regarding the amended phraseology o. the
article, and discussing the subject of post
pOnement Of proceedings until the next session
OF congress, the tribunal itself has come to a
decision which renders further controversy on
these points unnecessary; and, in fact, has set
tied the question in a manner satisfactory to
our government Judging from the dispatch
OF Secretary Fish to Minister Schencll of April
10Th, III when he reiterated the views previously
expressed, saying "should that august tribunal
decide state is not liable for the indirect or
consequential results of an accidental or UNI
legations, the United States will unhesitatingly
accept the decision Should it, on the other
hand, decide that Great Britain is liable to this
government for such consequential results, they
have that full faith in the British governments
observance of its engagements 10 expect com
pIiance with the judgment of the tribunal
which solemn treaty between the two powers
has created in order to remove and adjust all
| complaints and claims on the part of the United
States. To the judgment of the tribunal when
pronounced, the Unite1 States will implicitly
bow. They confidently expect the same sub
mission on the part of the great nation with
which they entered into such solemn oblga-
tons. Of course her majesty's government
must be satisfied with the decision of the arbi-
traitors excluding the consideration of the in
direct claims, and it is thought here that in
consequence of this action of the tribunal, the
additional article to the treaty is rendered uu-
necessary, and will accordingly be altogether
Withdrawn from the controversy.