The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-06-05

1 British surrestion for postponing the business OF
the Geneva Tribunal, with view to better under
standing OF the article, was not unreasonable, and
| that our government is willing to bring about
| the adjournment OF the srbitrators In either OF
the two ways pointed out in Lord Granville's COM
munication OF last Saturday; that Is by fcrma,
treaty concluded at Washington before our senate
adjourns, by joint application to be presented
by the agents Of the two parties to the arbitration
An important point in this connection is the wish
| OF our government to adjourn the arbitration
without nrst submitting the printed or written ar
gument required by the fifth article or the Treaty OF
washington, but the necessity OF action on our side
to reserve our argument Till later meeting Is OBJ
waited by the pledge OF the British Cabinet to
parliament not to proceed any further at Geneva
Till the indirect claims are withdrawn.
AS these claims are not to be withdrawn till the
Senates article becomes treaty. and as that treaty
cannot be made till the article is discussed and ex
planned by mail communication. the United States
already possesses the desired privilege OF withhold
ing its preliminary argument with view to eventu-
alities.
1t Is understood by our government that II the
British government should fail to enforce upon us
any change In the proposed article Of the treaty. It
viii at last consent to accept the treaty In the
Senate's own words, and to agree upon its mean
ing by an exchange OF notes. in connection with
the whole correspondence Of the two governments,
both before and after the Supplemental Treaty.
These win supply the definition ana limitation that
Lord Granville is SO anxious to impose upon the
broadly stated proposition OF the Senate.
Secretary Fish In his despatch regrets that in the
conversations held between themselves, Sir Ed
ward Thornton should have received from him any
impression strongly enough to transmit 1t to Lon
don, there to DO repeated to General schenck
that he was of opinion that the Senates article
was capable Of Improvement His position with
regard to that article is such that he could
not with any show OF consistency have
consented that the British representative
should receive from him any impression that he
was In the least dissatisfied with either the Ian
guage or the spirit Of the Senate resolution which
embodied the agreement the President was recon-
mended to make with Great Britain. On the con-
trary, he is anxious to place himself squarely with
the Senate and the President In presenting
the modified article as the uttermest con-
cessiOn to save the material interests that
have been persistently urged upon the
administration is entitled to regard, so far they
could be regarded without abatement OF tho dig
nifty and honor Of the country. The friends OF Mr..
Fish say that he stands as strongly as ever by
first case, but anxiety to save the treaty, to save
the example and establish a principle of
international arbitration, and to concede some
thing to the actual commercial and financial
feeling Of the country, induced him to seek
fair equivalent for the original demand. This
equivalent he considers to be gained to both sides
In the supplementary treaty proposed by Great
Britain and amended by ourselves, and II 1t were
left to him he would not consent to any modinca-
ton Of the intent and meaning placed here upon
the supplemental article
The pending difaculty arises from the failure Of
ho dod ortio tO utotu Tor will
definition Of what constitutes indirect claims and
the British apprehension Of the result Of such an
omission is that some of our claims, that are
to be put to rest as indirect may re-
appear as within the scope Of direct
losses, or, falling that, that we may find 1t to our
interest in future changes Of circumstances, to SO
enlarge the area Of indirect damages, in the alb
sence OF an acknowledged definition, as to make
the observance OF neutral obligations OF pecuni
airy consequence when measured against the profits
OF privateering and tho suppanting Of rivals
maritime commerce.