Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1872-05-16
The Treaty of Washington.

The negotiations relative to the Treaty
of Washington excite more interest in
England than in this country, as it is
made test party question by the Tories
and the Gladstone Ministry, for in case
the latter fail to settle the controversy
satisfactorily, declaration of want OF
confidence in the Ministry will be moved
in the House of Commons and probably
force resignation. The latest London
dispatches indicate that negotiations are
still in progress, though Earl Granville
does not express the opinion that the
correspondence will succeed in settling
the points in debate.
Minister Schenck informs the Presi-
dent of the acceptance by the British
Government of the final proposition he
had made to Lord Granville with re-
spect to our consequential claims. This
proposition was short supplemental
treaty bearing upon the question of the
indirect claims alone.
These claims, it has been suggested,
could be covered, retrospective rule
laid down for the guidance of the Gen
eva Tribunal, setting forth that when
ever the United States or Great Britain
was engaged in war and the other power
was a neutral, and by want of due dill
gence on the part of the neutral, any
privateer or hostile vessel should escape
from its waters or equip or renew its
hostile strength in the neutrals ports,
the latter should only be liable for the
direct damages inflicted upon the bellig-
erent Ivy the operations of such vessel.
The effect of such an understanding
would be to enable the United States to
leave its whole case before the tribunal
as originally presented by removing the
objection that the British Government
has heretofore raised, that the conse-
quential claims we had preferred found
no sanction or warranty in the treaty.
The agreement of the Gladstone Minis
try to this proposal was not hoped until
Mr.. Schencks dispatch was received on
Saturday morning. Thus it would seem
AlldJ al bAbl thtAOAl vi bAlC LlCoI - NV az
an end. The President will. probably
submit the correspondence to the Senate
asking its consent to a supplemental
treaty.
We have alluded to the fact and cause
Of the interest in this question in Eng
land, but the United States will be pleas
ed at this new method of adjusting in
ternational difficulties agreed upon by
treaty, because it is an honorable way of
settling vexed and delicate questions and
securing harmony between the two great
governments. If the British government
can afford to abandon the treaty, the
United States can afford to await a set
Element of her claims. This breach the
administration cannot be made respOn-
sible for. Our case was formed in strict
pursuance of the terms of the treaty,
and we were ready to submit all issues
to the Geneva court. The verdict of the
American people will fully sustain the
position of the President and Cabinet.
because we could not with self-respect
abandon the claim our government have
proffered, or Justify its withdrawal.
Time will, of course, bring a renewal of
an agreement for a settlement Of diff
culties. There is no prospect or threat
of war involved in the failure Of the
treaty. The friendship of the two na-
tions will no. allow an occasion for war,
although the effect may he to hurl Mr..
Gladstone from power; but it can have
no effect on this side of the Atlantic