The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1872-05-17
Another New Phase in the Treaty.

So the Alabama Treaty is not
lost after all. The latest intelligence
from that tiresome affair is highly
favorable, and it now seems more
proboble than it has for month
past that the treaty will be essential
ly saved and carried into effect. 1t
will be remembered some days since
the Leader explained that Secretary
Fish had proposed as a fair compro-
mise that our government should
waive its claim for indirect damages,
provided that England should agree
to forgo all claims for similar dam
ages resulting from any failure on
our part to maintain strictly the neu-
trality laws when in futurn Britain
might be at war. To this Gladstone
replied that he would if our govern
ment would limit the application of
the agreement to similar cases. That
is, England would in future forgo
her claims for consequential dam
ages in case of a privateer escaping
from an American port. In the case
ofa Fenian raid or any other infrac-
zion of our neutral obligations, she
would insist upon consequential
damages as before. This seemed
like pettifogging the question, and
the President, having taken the mat
ter into his own hands, very properly
refused the English compromise,
and the negotiations seemed likely
to be broken of. The disappoint-
ment on both sides of the Atlantic
was outspoken and sincere. It was
felt to be deep misfortune that a
treaty negotiated at a cost of so
much trouble and anxiety, one, more
over, which had promised to set the
world so valuable an example of q
new and better mode Of settling in
ternational differences, should be
overthrown by q mere blunder in not
making it's terms sufficiently precise.
Both Secretary Fish and Earl
Granville have been for several days
looking anxiously for an honorable
way out Of the present complications
and, according to latest adviees, they
seem to have found one that promis-
es success. The pith of the pro-
posed arrangement, as we gather
from the somewhat confused tele.
grams, is that the whole treaty, ex-
cept the cause relative to the indi-
rect claims, shall be submitted to the
Geneva Board Of Arbitration. Then.
when the main part IF the treaty IS
finally settled and out of the way.
there shall be supplemental or sec
ond treaty on the indirect claims
alone. This plan was proposea bv
Mr.. Fish, and, after some hesitation.
consented to by the English govern
ment. 1t has been telegraphed bv
Mr. Schcnck to Washington. and
will be submitted to the Senate for
approval. If the Senate concur, all
difficulties at present pertaining to
the treaty will vanish. That it will
concur, may be fairly inferred from
the fact that the Senate Foreign
Committee and the Cabinet indorsed
Mr.. Fish's last proposal before it
was submitted to Granville. 1t NAV
seem at first thought that after the
direct claims are settled, and the
bulk OF thematter in dispute disposed
Of, England might be naturally indie.
pendent and naughty with reference
to any further negotiations. The
reverse will more probably be the
case. The question of indirect dam
ages is one which England cannot
afford to leave open. Until that is
settled her commerce is in peril the
the moment that she declares war