The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-02-12

The following Speclal report 70 Tue dERAL ID
has been received from our correspondent in
the capital of Great Britain -
LONDON, Feb. IL, 1872.
The English government is earnestly
anxious to avoid misunderstanding with the
American President and Cabinet at Washing
ton on the subject of the Alabama claims set
Element and the negotiations relative thereto
in the Geneva Court of Arbitration.
BRITISH CABINET FEARS AND ENGLISH NATIONAL
HOPE.
Her Majesty's Ministers do not like to lose
the Treaty of Washington, and they are de-
termined not to. yield TO the Ameri-
cans a point which the public mind
of England regards as involving
the national honor, by the possibility
which a compromise of the matter in dispute
contemplates. 1t is hoped by the advisers Of
the Crown that presently, when the excite
ment which now prevails becomes less, the
spirit Of mutual Cancellation will reconcile
points of international misunderstanding
which, in the heat of the present violent dis
cussion, appear irreconcilable.
COMPENSATION FOR INDIRECT LossEs-cAN IT
BE COMPOUNDED?
The point of last resistance in the English
position is the phrase 'sindirect losses" in the
American bill of damages. The English are
not exactly tenacious as to the phrase, and
they might not object to continue the arbitra-
ton with the phrase retained in the treaty if
they were, or are, guaranteed that the money
award under that head would not in any case
exceed certain figure of amount.
They would thus yield their first principle
of q general objection to the demand for COM
pensation for indirect losses, aud meet the
views of the American people and the re-
quirement of the American Interpretation of
the Treaty of Washington.
WHAT BRITAIN WANTS TO OBTAIN.
But in exchange for this the English wish to
get the certainty of knowing the limit of the
American bill, and thus deprive the existing
classification of American claims of the
alarming character which its indefinite nature
as to total now presents to practical minds.
HOW RECONCILIATION MAY BE EFFECTED.
Should this idea be adopted, and matured to
the stage and status of clause for negota-
ton, it may result in an arrangement which
will continue the proceedings of three arbitra-
lions, which are now proceeding satisfacto-
rily, in Berlin, in Washington, and in Can
ada--on the San Juan Boundary question, the
Mixed Claims, aud the North American
Fisheries dispute-as if there were no exist
ing differences between England and the
United States; and also continue theyGeneva
Arbitration, with an understanding as to the
amount which will satisfy both sides, under
the head of indirect losses, in the Alabama
claims bill.
This understanding might be reduced tc
writing, and put n;form as an additional rule
of instruction to fthe Geneva Tribunal, or al
q supplementary secret article to the treaty
Mr.. scnEsok PRESENTS AN AMERICAN NOTE
Minister Fschenck has communicated ar
American mote to the English government OF
the subject Of the words just used by Premie
Gladstone, which were deemed to convey al
impntation on the good faith Of the Unite'
States. The note is regarded as expressing
proper assertion Of the dignity Of the Wash
ington government, and will, most likely, b
answered by the British Foreign Secretary il