The Portland daily press., 1872-06-22

WASHINGTON.
Indisect Claims not TenabIc.

WASHINGTON, June 21.-It is reported and
believed here that the arbitrator avowed the
opinion that the claims of the kind known as
indirect claims are not subjects for the award
OF money damages, and it is understood in view
OF this declaration that the American agent
and counsel will not press farther our claims of
that character.
The Question of Indirect Damages.
There is the best reason for believing that at
their brief session on the 10Th inst, the arbitra-
tors decided that indirect claims cannot proper
ly come before them, and they must, therefore,
be excluded. ON this announcement being for,
mally made on the 18th, it is not apprehended
there will be any further difficulty in proceed
ing with the business under the treaty
From the commencement of the controversy
ever since the American statement of the case
was submitted to the tribunal, the British have
contended that none but direct claims were
known as the Alabama claims and that the in
irect losses were mentioned by the American
High Commission, not as claims, but as griev-
ances, and were mentioned only to be with
drawn from discussion. Our Government on
the other hand, has always contended that
these claims were within the province of the
tribunal, and it therefore adhered to and never
contemplated their withdrawal, it being con-
sidered necessary to present them, i'm order
to have decision, and prevent them from be-
ing brought up hereafter to disturb the harmo-
ny OF the two nations 1t is known that the
supplemental article to the treaty of Washing
ton was proposed, in order to relieve the two ma
tons from their antagonistic position, but
while the parties have been in correspondence,
regarding the amended phraseology of the ar
ticle, and discussing the subject of the post
ponement of the proceedings till next the SEES
sion of Congress, the tribunal itself has come
to decision, which renders further controver-
sy on these points unnecessary, and in fact has
settled the question in manner satisfactory to
our government. Judging from dispatch OF
Secretary Fish to Minister Schenck of April 16
in which he reiterated the views previously ex
pressed: Should that august tribunal decide
that State is not liable for indirect or conse
quential results of an accidental or unintenton
al violation of its neutral obligation, the United
States will unhesitatingly accept the decision
Should it, on the other hand, decide that Great
Britain is liable to this Government for sucl
consequential results. they have that full faitl
in the British Governments observance of it.
engagements to expect compliance with tho
judgment of the tribunal which solemn treat,
between the two powers has created i'm order t(
remove and adjust all complaints and claims OF
the part of the United States. To the judgmen
of the tribunal when pronounced the United
States will implicitly, bow. They confidentl,
expect the same submission on the part of til,
great nation with which they entered into sucl
solemn obligations
Of course Her Majestys Government mus
| be satisfied with the decision of the arbitrator
| including the consideration of the indirec
claims and it is thought here that in conse
| quence of this action of the tribunal the add
| tonal article to the treaty is rendered unneces
sary and will accordingly be altogether with
| draw from the controversy.