New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-04-04
PARLIAMENTARY pIscUssroN-ouEsrIoN OF

EARL DRRBY-REsPONSE OF EARL GRAN
vILLE-HE WILL ADHERE TO THE POLICY
ANNOUNCED AT THE OPENING OF PARLIA-
MENT.
In the British House of Lords on the 29d
Of March, the Earl Of Derby in rising to put question
70 the Secretary of state for Foreign Affairs as to tho
course which Her Majestys Government proposed to
adopt with reference the proceedings under the Treaty
of Washington, said:
have purposely worded my question in general terms
because | did not wish, the one hand 10 press my
noble friend for information on any special point on
giving it and because, the other hand II pos
slble, and probable that my noble friend might de-
sire to Offer some was obviously better that
An English Minister conducting the foreign affairs of this
position. Public opinion, if unfav orable doubt
dspace him. but cannot undo what has been done The
Treaty binding although the public may have had no
knowledge of its provisions until it concluded and
although both Parliament and the public may ds%,
R@efS as we ali know. there ii" is check npon the
powers OF the Executive, because the consent Oh Ihe
sens to Is discuss the 20 hoy
that We also, should have that ehec ai--Graory
binding there should be no expression of parliamentary
opinion pending negotiations, no word OF encoui ~
eign afiars-that to say, with reference 10 matters
which are really the most momentous pi any Una. To
have 10 deal with-unti encouragement mas become SUI
perluous or warning of no avail thear, hear what
have TO ask from my noble in or or less
general terms that the Government Will steadily MAINTAIN
nc
70 take up-the ground that is, of refusal to
admit the inclusion in the arbitration OF those indirect
claims in any form whatever. lCheers That is not
question detail but of principle upon which, now that
Your lordshps about 10 separate for some time,
Understandings Ii is not that fear any present direct
intention the part of the Governments 10 abandon
that which Lord Clarendon, speaking of the Crmean
quarrel in which he played great part, described as
that at the end Of long and complicated and difficult
negotiation the parties concerned may find themselves
fhnWd
template. In financial matters, where the affairs
OF individuals are concerned, ono OF the eommonest
cessfu cannot make up his mind to sacrifice bad invest
ment at once but goes rskng and more money,
not to intimate that anything OF that KIND happens
in diplomacy, but all understand the temptation
there when people nearly agreed to say 1t would
bc pity break off account OF little more or less
step is taken after another little added to little
until i'll the end the aggregate Is great deal Hear
There is another question: As the time for putting IN
counter claims expires the 18th Of next month"; wish
to ask my noble friend whether the Government intend
TO put in their counter claims while the present
negotiations are going on or whether they intend to
spend their proceedings before the arbrators till the
matter settled quite aware that there power
Vested TO eE rennreS for the production of further
dence and therefore 1t does not apply TO the present
but in care has been will be taken to guard against
even the appearance OF admitting tnat Claims ShCi u.s.
Treaty. GCheers.J
Earl Granville in reply said; The question of my
noble friend divides itself into three parts His notice
was as he said of a somewhat vague character and al
though he stated the beginning of his speech that that
vagueness adopted for the purpose Of doing what
would he agreeable to think that in matters OF this
decacy and importance 1t is better that the notice
sbould always be clear and precise. ! don't think
that we have been unusually reticen with regard to
this subject. We purposey delayed the ratification Of
the Treaty last year. contrary to the usual practice in
order to give noble earl not present Uord RusselD
opportunity OF testing the Opinions OF yonr lordshps
h nt0 ' HE zee .y S words gR c ag
e. @h pfesfn ae eas t0 P the
earl to put this question, think that under ordinary cir
in his appearing to think that did not intend to act
up the policy indicated in the words we had put into
into an elaborate defense the Treaty of washn
what Is clear Is that that Treaty accepted by the
a. It was also on the other side of the Atlantic No real
opposition was made to 1t in the House OF Commons ,
perfect absence OF party spirit, and your lordshps
utterly refused 70 indorse what was said by the noble
earl Gord RusselD.
We are not now dealing with general charges brought
against the Treaty but with the construction of par,
ticular clause in It, Now, the noble Earl ord Derby
lavish of his criticisms last year. but so far from
hitting the particular question which is now the subject
the most emphatic words that the only concession he
could find in the Treaty on the part OF America was the
liable for the early recognition OF begerency and Of
the equally preposterous imagination, which he be-
heved only existed in the minds OF or two speakers
IN the Senate, with regard to constructive damages
daf naa We he I'll in o
contention TO the exclusion of these claims by the
has been 50 emphacay stated in another place that
anxious to maintain the Treaty AS to the COM
Of il at all He says Don't throw good money after the
bad which you have lost but here Is solemn engage
reoiced at the friendly relations tnat it was likely
to establish and at the settlement of several most
effect Well, they have misunderstanding upon one
point and surely there would be equal blame to us If
taken up and on the other, If by any hasty ncgli
gent step we threw away the chance OF maintaining the
We are determined to adhere to the policy announced
by Her Majesty in her speech and IhCge may say,
Government, that while since the formation Of Mr.
Gladstone's Cabinet there have been several Diff
course adopted by has been blamed by some and ap-
proved by others according to their different political
that we have departed from the policy we announced
or the pledges we have given. lCheers.l In like
spirit of Her Maesty's speech, from the policy
@ bs and I ng say Ss the
With regard TO the noble earls questions, l am
mot a nST R PeS0n to sOo %4'vS Sect ase
DO so, because II you once begin answering
questions OF this sort it Is impossible not to drift into
deny that great anxiety prevails among your lordshps
the people Of the United and Therefore not
surprised that the noble earl should have put this ques
ton But trust your 2 % VIII not THINK an ex
wise tban in those general terms whcn cordially and
CheeTfuy do" lCheers.l
The Earl of Malmesbury submitted tbat the
people had intelligent and better informed
it would be impossible main the Old rules as to the
nondiscussiOn Of matters under negotiation. 1t was
fact absurd to suppose that after the Government had
placed papers Oh the table their lordshps would remain
dumb with regard to them. The whole matter simply
Of discretion. For his part the Earl Of Maes
bury had hesitation in saying that the best
q ~
they could not get their rghspunge their states
and begin again. II the noble earl wanted words in
which 10 convey this determination the speaker would
refer Inn 10 those of the Americans themselves in the
dispute respecting the north western boundary They
alIl.dl