New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-06-26
BRITISH OPINIONS ON THE NEGOTIATIONS.

| OfINlONS ON HE CALCULATIONS.
| GENERAL ANXIETY RESPECTING THE ACTION OF
| THE NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. IN PARLIA-
| NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. OF BAD FAITH ON
THE PART OF THE AMERICAN AUTHORITIES.
! PROM THE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUNE
| LONDON, June 15.-There is something al
most pitiabe in the mental condition Of our English
friends this week II the liking OF the English Govern
ment for secret negotiation has had other effect it
has at least succeeded in strainng the patience OF the
public in general, and Of its own supporters almost
beyond endurance. Its imperfect revelations only
stimulated curiosity and added TO the general
anxiety, and awoke alarm, and have finally
landed Parliament and newspapers and all newspaper
reading Engishmen in state OF bewilde-ed exaspera-
ton. 1t reaches its climax this morning. because this
morning to witness the reunion OF the Arbitrators at
Geneva, and no man knows, guess what the day
may bring forth. believe nine men out OF ten In this
kingdom would experience feeling OF relief II they
heard that the Arbitration and Treaty had finally col
lapsed together The feeling OF relief would last about
a minute, and be succeeded by fresh apprehension
about the still existing claims. In such case it might
be some months before England would reopen
the discussion and her attitude would through all
the phases OF resentment, Of suky Indifference (which
would be mostly affeetation) and finally once more
into that condition Of nervous soictude from which he
will never be wholly free till the skeleton form OF that
pirate cruiser no longer looms above the horizon.
For what have been permitted to know this week
about recent proceedings between the Governments
we have as usual to thank the newspapers. The Daily
Eeps prints dispatch in the morning from its New
York correspondent. AS as the House meets in the
afternoon Mr. Gladstone is asked whether he has read
it and whether It is true. Occasionally the Prime
Minister assumes air Of lofty superiority TO such
things newspapers and once he has gone through the
pleasing comedy Of sending out for copy of the paper
in question: before saying whether the dispatch was cor
rect This happened in the case of telegram
covering verbatim copy OF dispatch from Lord Gran
In yEotrua
capable OF lending belief to this little bit OF
hypocrisy But the truth is that the New
York papers give the Ministry good deal
OF trouble, and their indiscreet frankness has
brought down on them the solemn rebuke OF both
Mr. Gladstone and his Foreign Minister. Mr.. Bernal
Osborne on Tuesday, with his usual freedom from that
sense of responsibility which checks the random utter
apces OF other men, suggested that the dipateh at
tributed to Lord Granville might be forgery. II it
was genuine il was humiliatng. Possibly Mr. Osborne
is right about the latter point, though Mr.. Gladstone
would not admit that he felt any sense OF degradation
In the midst of the shame which our own Government
has brought upon u.s. 1t Is worth while TO note that our
adyersaries are too much occupied with their own mort
fcation TO pay much attention to ours. Mr.. Disraeh,
who, as Lord Granville says, has been watching Mr.
Gladstone like cat, sprung at him this time like a
tiger pronounced his policy Of secrecy astounding and
declared that ii was likely TO end in disaster and
disgrace TO England. Mr.. Dsraeli brought out
that the Alabama question is the most important ques
ton OF American pocs--dOmestic politics-that is.
You cannot persuade anybody here that the Presidential
election does not turn on 1t; still less that Americans
look upon the whole dispute with feeling which, com
pared to intense anxiety prevailing here, might be
called unconcen. Mr.. Disrael protested against the
contemplated eight months adjournment Of the Arbi-
tration on this ground. Eight months he remarked Is
the term during which hot contest will be occurring
for election TO the highest Office In America and he did
not want the relations between the two countries made
tho sakinghoe and chief subject OF discussion on all
the hustlngs of the United States You viii perceive
that Mr. Disraers knowledge of political matters in
America not very precise, but we can pardon that
The Times not long ago expressed the notion, and
dispatch from NewYork to another London paper, evil
IDENTIFY from English correspondent this week, spoke
Of your DISAPPOINTMENT at the failure Of the Treaty as
disguised under mask Of indifference.
Here there is no mask Nobody attempts to disguise
his interest the settlement Of the question, nor yet to
conceal the alarm with which the news from Geneva to-
day is waited for. OF one thing Englishmen have be-
come convinced and that is that the American counsel
al Geneva very able men, About another thing also
they make little secret their disrust OF the capacity OF
their own representatives though one Of them is Sir
Roundell Palmer the undisputed head Of the English
bar Nor have Englishmen much real confidence in the
Arbitrators themselves-I mean in the three neutral
members OF the Tribunal. They oreigners," and
the average Enghshman regards foreigner
as very poorly qualified 10 pass Judgment
on anything that has been done In this little
island The other day was looking over an agents list
OF furnished houses 70 let Against each house were set
various particulars Of size and rent and there was
separate column in which recorded special cond
lions of letting. Against house I remarked
this entry "No dogs nor foreigners" Upon
my observing TO agent that there would not be much
use in my looking at that house. Oh, said he, that
does MT mean Americans; II foreigners; :" and
al al gnan iartlg
peopleD The Arbitrators such people"-a Swiss
an Italian Brazilian, foreigners OF the worst SORT 1t
is doubtful whether they clean, 1t Is certain they do
not speak English and one Of them would stand any
chance OF hiring that house Is very absurd no DOUBT
but that is not the point No amount Of sbsurdityof
which, moreover, he is profoundly uneonscous-would
affect the repugnance which your Phstine English
man feels toward one OF another race than his own
His ideas OF him are associated with Leicesterquare
perhaps derived mainly from passing hurredy through
that disreputable locality. He does not comprehend
down 10 this day how any question affecting English
interests can have got into such hands for decision
doubt whether the decision Of the Tribunal VIII carry
great moral weight with IL in this country should we
by chance ever get the point OF having decision
delivered.
Last nieht again Lord Granville, In the House OF Lords
created profound uneasness by remarking neldentay
and as II IL we're the most natural thing In the world
that the summaries Of arguments viii be put In by both
narte al Geneva to-day After the events OF the last
week after Fish reported refusal to on IN an ap-
plicaton adjournment and reported notineaton
70 the English Government that he would regard any
conditional presentation OF the English summary as
reason for breaking of all further negotiations. do
not pretend 10 understand Lord GraHves meaning 1t
may be that spite OF all the newspaper enterprise which
he diskes 30 much, he has succeeded In keeping bis
last secret and that surprse in store for us Be that
as IL may 1t would be ueeess deny thai the conduct Of