The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-05-06
Opinions OF the English Press on the
British Ministry and the American

cases and the interchange OF protests by Lord
Tenterden and Mr.. Bancroft Davis at Geneva and
it is worth inquirng how far that week has affected
the prospects OF the Treaty OF Washington. We be-
leve 1t has left the treaty precisely where it was.
The intervening days have been thick with rumors,
and the hopeful persons who always believe in the
best have been several times certain that the gov
eminent Of the United States have resolved on the
withdrawal of the indirect claims. Those who take
a gloomy pleasure In anticipating the worst have
been equally well assured that the treaty must at
once lapse. The moral to be deduced from the con-
Trajectory rumors and guesses which have dis
turbcd so many people during the last week seems
to us very simple. We cannot tell whether the
arbitration at Geneva will proceed as originally
proposed or will come to an abrupt termination
Its fate depends upon the Cabinet at Washington,
and their conduct probably depends upon the es-
innate which may be formed at the White House OF
the comparative effect which might be produced on
the popular mind in America by a withdrawal OF
the indirect claims or by an abandonment of the
treaty.
The London Standard says:-"Not only have Her
MaJesty's government so managed the treaty
that the United States able to put in all their
monstrons pretensions but they have so drawn up
the counter case that they have virtually admitted
the competence OF the tribunal to decide upon them.
The only excuse that the government can make for
their first error Is that they dealt with the United
States in good faith and expected to be met In the
same spirit; that they limited the arbitration to the
claims generally known as the Alabama claims, and
this did not include the Sumter and Nashville the
complaints about blockade runners from Liverpool
and transhipments at Nassau. European opinion has
pronounced upon this point 1t holds Lord Granville
somewhat simple, and Mr. Fish very much too
smart and forbear to press either criticism too
far. For the second error-that OF pleading to the
irrelevant charges-we can see no excuse. But we
wait to hear the discussion OF the 10Th and learn
what Ministers have to say. In the meantime the
counter case makes II abundantly clear what ought
10 be the course OF England. II establishes beyond
doubt that we never ought to have gone into this
arbitration that In the general scope of their cas,
the Americans have 0verreached us but that in the
Indirect claims they have overreached theinseyes:
and that we should rejoice TO avail ourselves OF the
opportunity they have given us to escape with
honor from the trap into which we had fallen.-
The lorratlg Post says lit has been stated openly
In the United states that the discussion on the ali.
OF the Indirect claims has resolved itself
virtually into question OF whether Genera Grant
snail cease TO be President or Mr.. Gladstone to be
frem'er. And u must be confessed that appear
inces are very much IN favor OF this conclusion
nere can be no doubt In this country at least that
l MT. Gladstone desires to remaiD at the head of