The Portland daily press., 1872-02-13
FOREIGN
GREAT BRITAIN.
THE ALABAMA CLAIMS.
The Proposition of English Work.
ingmen.

LONDON, Feb. 12-[N New York World speciall
The conflict of opinion on the Alabama claims
increases A meeting of working men will
soon be held to oppose the course of the British
government and demand the immediate settle
ment of the claims. The sum paid to the
United States to be subsequently recovered of
the builders of the vessels which caused the
damages. A party in parliament is preparing
to move for the resignation of the present min
istry on the ground of its laundering incapacity
and the formation of cabinet which shall pro-
pose the settlement of the Alabama claims on
a new basis.
RATHER DOUBTFUL. ..
The Daily News asserts that the public opin-
ion in Germany is strong in its condemnation
of the course pursued by the United States
government in connection with the Alabama
claims. MI. Gladstone in replying to a ques-
ton in the House of Commons to-day stated
that the case of the American government
submitted to the Geneva board of arbitration
had not yet been printed and it would therefore
be unjust to publish the document here at
present.
TALK OF A CoMPRoMIsE-A CHANGE OF TONE.
LONDON, Feb lin. Y. Herald's special.
The English government is evidently anxious
to avoid misunderstanding with the authori-
ties at Washington, nor to render the treaty a
nullity, and not to yield point which the pub
lie mind regards as involving the national hon.
or.
The possibility of a compromise is contemp-
lated and even hoped for at an early day, when
the excitement is less than at present and
when spirit of mutual Cancellation will recon-
cile points that in the present time of violent
discussion appeer unreconcilable. The point
of least resistance in the English position is the
phrase indirect losses" The English people
are not tenacious as to that phrase and might
not object to continue arbitration with that
phrase retained in the treaty if it were guaran-
teed that the award under that head in any
case would not exceed certain figure.
They would thus yield the principle of indi-
rect losses and meet the views of the American
people and the requirements of the American
Interpretation of the treaty, but in exchange
they would get a certainly known limit and
thus deprive the claims of the alarming charac-
ter which their indefinite nature now presents
to practical minds Should the idea reach the
stage OF negotiation, it may result in an arrage-
ment to continue the arbitrations proceeding
satisfactorily at Berlin, Washington and in
Canada as II there was no difference, and to
continue also the Geneva arbitration with an
understanding as to the amount that will salts
fly both sides under the head of indirect losses''
This understanding might be put in the form of
an additional rule or instruction to the tribunal
OF supplementary secret article.
~ NOTE FROM MINISTER scHENcK
Minister Schenck communicated note to
the English government on the recent language
OF Gladstone, which was deemed an imputation
on the good faith of the United States. The
note is regarded as proper assertion of the
dignity of his government and will, it is likely,
be answered in a most friendly spirit, deprecat-
ing any diplomatic application to words used in
the heat of debate.
AUSTRIA.
QUITE POSSIBLE
VIENNA, Feb. 1.-THE Presse in an article
upon the claims of America before the arbitra-
ton at Geneva, says that England has probably
learned that the opinion of the board will be
unfavorable to the conduct of that nation dur
sequences of her course towards the United
States.
FRANCE.
PREPARING TO co ON.
PARIS Feb. 12-Caleb Cushing, j. C. Ban
croft Davis VIM. NJ Evarts, and Mr.. Waite,
have arriven in Paris and are in close consulta-
tion in regard to the business before the Geneva
board of arbitration. -es
NEW BASIS OF SETTLEMENT WITH GERMANY.
VERSAILLES, Feb 1.-THE Parliamentary
Committee upon the subject of national loan
for the payment of the German indemnity has
suspended its deliberations having been ap-
praised that the government is negotiating
with the German authorities for new basis of
settlement which will be communicated shortly
to the Assembly. ~
1886 DOMINION OF CANADA.
81 LOSS OF FISHERMEN.
Boston, Feb 12.-Halifax dispatches reports
the lost American fishing schooner David NJ
Hilton bound home, put into Prospect Tuesday,
having lost the previous Saturday, while over
hauling her trauls, VIM. Goodwin of Argyle,
n. s., John Wilson, a Swede, and James
Thomas, Scotchman There was a heavy
southeast gale off n. S. Coast last night
. J.