The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-02-05

Faith Of Ensiand-shaIl Il BE Peace
or Wars
Less than twelve months ago the contro-
versy growing out Of the hostile action Of the
British government during our Southern
rebellion, which for ten years had been con-
slant source of excitement and angry feeling
between the two nations, appeared to
be at last in a fair way towards
peaceable solution, by the signing
of the Treaty of Washington. The Joint
High Commission, through whose efforts this
result was reached, were armed with full
powers to accomplish all at which they
aimed. There was no limitation to their
authority to treat each with the other or to
settle all controverted points in accordance
with their best Judgment and their work
finally received the required approval Of
the British Parliament and the American
Congress. The English members Of the Com
mission were made familiar with the position
held by the American government, and with
the character of the claims, direct and indi-
rect, that were to be presented on our be-
half against the British nation. The Ameri-
can members Of the Commission, on the other
hand, were sensible of the character Of the
claims that would be certain to form part Of
those laid before the Court of Arbitration
under the head of claims Of British sub
jects. The very preamble adopted in
the Treaty of Washington shows that
these controverted points were thoroughly
understood, and lay at the basis of the pro-
posed settlement by arbitration. ''Whereas,
says the treaty, differences have arisen
between the government of the United States
and the government of Her Britannia Majesty,
growing out Of the acts committed by
the several vessels which have given
rise to the claims generally known
as the Alabama claims; and whereas
Her Britannia Majesty has authorized her
High Commissioners and Plenipotentionarie
to express in friendly spirit the
regret felt by Her Majesty's government for
the escape under whatever circumstances of
the Alabama and other vessels from British
ports, and for the depredations committed by
those vessels now, in order to remove all
complaints and claims on the part of the
United States, and to provide for the settle
ment of such claims, which are not admitted
by Her Britannia Majestys government, the
high contracting parties agree that all
the said claims growing out of acts COM
mitted by the aforesaid vessels, and generally
known as the Alabama claims, shall be re-
ferred to O Tribunal of Arbitration" &c. The
form and composition of the Tribunal having
been stipulated, the treaty proceeds to define
| its duties 1.-THE arbitrators shall meet at
Geneva, in Switzerland, at the earliest day
convenient after they shall have been
named, and shall proceed impartially and
carefully to examine and decide all
questions that shall be laid before them on the
part of the governments of the United States
and Her Britannia Majesty respectively"
| Words could not make the obligations of the
parties to the treaty more binding or the duty
of the Court of Arbitration and Award more
plain. With the full knowledge of the char
acter of the American demands direct and in
direct before them, the High Commits
sioners and Plenipotentiaries of Her Britannia
Majesty, speaking in her name and in the
name of her government, solemnly agreed that
'all complaints and claims" of every descrip-
ton on the part of the United States stgrow-
iug OUT Of acts committed by the Anglo-Con-
federate privateers should be submitted
to the Geneva Court for consideration and
settlement and the Court was required to
examine and adjudicate upon them.
There could be no misinterpretation, then,
Of the meaning and scope Of the Treaty of
Washington. How was the High Commission,
through whose labors it was brought about,
called into existence? By the efforts and at
the earnest desire and solicitation of the British
government. The government Of the United
| States was in no haste or anxiety to
press settlement Of our differences with the
British nation. The American people were
well satisfied that the controversy forced upon
us by the unfriendly attitude of England
during our great struggle for national exist
ence should be suffered to work itself ont to a
legitimate result in the due course of time.
But Her Britannia Majesty and Her Britannia
Majesty's Ministers were anxious that the dis
agreeable precedent of the Alabama
should be placed out of the way and
that friendly relations should be established
on q surer basis between the British monarchy
and the Western republic. England's prayer
and Englands plea were then for peace France
and Germany had been at war, and the re-
suit of the bloody strife had been the prostra-
ton of Englands old ally and the overtoppling
ofone Of the supposed strongest thrones ofEu-
rope. England, wisely proating by The lesson,
proposed new alliance of commerce and
! peace between the two strony, English-speak-
| ing nations Of the world. Let Us settle all
our old quarrels, was her appeal to
| America and cement such close friendshin