New-York tribune., 1872-05-09
THE DIPLOMATIC MUDDLE.
WHAT GREAT BRITAIN EXPECTS OF THE
UNITED STATES.
HOW THE REPoRTs FROM AMERICA ARE CON-


a very remarkable change of American opinion ON
the indirect claims Ii the dispatches are to be be-
beved the great majority of American states
men, politicians, newspapers and the public gen
orally, have become convinced that the Indirect
Claims ought never TO have been included In the
American Case. and ought never to be Withdrawn
from it, The English public accepts these statements
readily and eagerly, is natural, since they
hold ont the promise of q concession to Enghsn
cla1nor. Whether they accurate or not, cannot
tell but the fact that most of the dispatches Ii
question proceed either from Mr. Reuters agency or
from the Philadelphia correspondent of The Times,
leaves them open suspicion. In any case authors
of them viii be glad 10 know that they have had
the effect they were presumably intended TO have,
and that Englishmen now thoroughly convinced
that they were right from the beginning; that the
United States wrong from the beginning, and
that the latter ready to submit to almost any
abasement rather than lose the chance OF getting
few millions Of dollars from the Geneva arbitration
When teleerams enough to clinch this impression
had been dispatched, they were followed by another
describing plan of settlement in which the Amerl-
can Secretary of State and the British Minister at
Washington neither Of whom has one atom OF
power IN the matterl are alleged TO have agreed.
Great Britain according to this scheme was to un-
dertake that in future wars in which she shall be
belhgerent and America neutral, the latter shall
ON account of the escape of American Alabamas
from American ports; this agreement to be
elevated into a new Rule of international
Law: and in consideration of the assent of Great
Britain TO this proposition, the United States are to
withdraw their present claim for consequential
damages on account of the escape of the Alabama.
II is intended we should understand that this has
all along been the real object Of the presentation OF
the Indirect Claims and that the aequiescence OF
Tl..T- -. 49, I
alteration for their abandonment This method of
settlement is SAID 10 be propOunded by NewYork |
Journal whose authority and credibiity are in an
inverse ratio to the of Its readers and their
knowledge of its character
If there be a foundation for this statement, |
and if anybody supposed it would be considered |
10 any a compromise the answer OF The Pal MAJ
Gazette is regarded in England. &c II is"
says that journal direct and unequyoca withdrawal
OF claims for consequential damages The rag Of COM
pensaon which affects disguise 1t is woven out Of the
hope that is toleraby plain Surely there
stiu Of intelligence at Washington whom the
President has chosen TO aHenate, and who can tell
him that public opinion England, and in Europe gen
orally totally devoid OF penetration, and that the
attempt disguise surrender by artfce so trans
parent is 70 fail.
That il TO be in one shape another surrender,
suppose must from your article OF Thursday
the substance Of which telegraphed to The DAILY
Ne,cs and The Echo The OF their dispatches i'm
ply that your information positive but only made
public good foundation. II undoubtedly attributes
70 Mr.. Fshs Dispatch its way TO England, a |
far more concatory character than ION this side it has
been understood Yet if true, Mr.. Fish has
really expressed to the English Government the regrets
Government Of the United States and declared
that DO award desired expected the indirect
claims, and that he hopes Her Majestys Government
will permit the arbitration TO proceed on this under
siaDdngeven all this be true IL would seem that our
Secretary Of State has not yet bowed the head low
enough AT any rate, he has not satisfied The Times
Nothing viii satisfy that impacable sheet but the absO
ute and withdrawal from the American Case Of
he Indirect Claims The TneSs articles throughout this
controversy have, wnole indicated that
Il conductors really regretted the difference about
the Treaty and reaIlyE desired that the Arbitration
should 60 They have II true, taken attitude Of
immovable hostility 10 the consideration Of the Indirect
Caais nothing they have said requires them TO
stand on technicalty. II the American Govern
say has power under the Treaty
modify its Case, but the English Government
and the AbratOrs that II regrets the insertion of the
for consequential damages and agrees not 70
Il, 10 ask for any award account OF those dam
ages the real complaint OF the English Government is
met ts real object granted the danger against which it
fei bound 70 provide avered and there is longer
any other than reason Of FORM or any motive
but a motive Of pride, to hinder the arbitration Yet
The indicates readiness TO accept the
$50 far can learD, il writes this morning,
me answer we are now expecting is posi-
ave The principles asserted in the American
Case are maintained. Nothing is withdrawn which has
been submitted the Arbitrators, and with them il is
eft 20 decide whether the claim for consequential
damages lust To this England has objected and does
ojec The immediate result Of the recent exchange Of
Notes must therefore, be that England declines to
before the Tribunal This view it maintains this
though THE TRIBUNE dispatch yesterday in It's
possession and while insisting that public
spnion 10 the United States in favor Of the uncondi
aonal withdrawal Of Indirect Claims "The opera
Of the Treaty viii cease" says the article,
moment when the seventy millions OF people whom it
concerns are almost unanimous in desiring should
proceed according 70 the British Interpretation"
Well. The Times not without justification or, at any
rate persistence. The readiness shown
Mr. Fishs dispatch for capitulation may well induce
England 10 insist surrender without conditions,
surrender il form Of substance, withdrawal In
terms OF the obnoxious claims But think The Times
relies less on the dispatch OF Mr. Fish than those
manifestations OF American opinion which ts dispatches
declare be general. do not know how general |
hey but that they exist to extent have
Known for some time. few newspapers few lawyers
9 college ex-President, a member Of Congress with a
resolution II his pocket supplied the English press
gitb body OF quotations IN favor OF the English view
Adding the recent dispatches which have already
ierred and applying the whole Judgment ped
10 that Ignorance Of everything American which /
sbaraetenzes a great part OF the English press |
what need wonder that an American opinion |
u the kind wanted over here should be the |
RESULT far from supposng there is foundation
al all for such belief know very well that there
and speakers IN America who take pleasure in
supplying what they call American opinion Of kind
suited 70 the English market. There others who |
mink claims OF international Law superior those
Mt her VIII are