The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1872-02-22
THE BRITISH EXCITENEST.


The needless excitement in England
over the presentation Of the American
claims under the Washington Treaty con-
tinues, although it is somewhat abated
The session Of Parliment was opened on
the 9th, when the Queens speech was
read, containing the following passage in
relation to the Treaty:
The Arbitrators appointed pursuant
to the Treaty Of Washington, for the pur
pose of amicably settling the Alabama
claims, held their first meeting in Genoa.
Cases were laid before the Arbitrators
on behalf of each party to the Treaty.
In the case SO submitted by the United
States large claims are included which
are understood On my part not to be
within the province of the Arbitra tors.
On this subject. | have caused friendly
communication to be made to the Gov
ernment Of the United States. The En-
peror Of Germany has undertaken to ar
bitrate on the San Juan Water boundary
an1 the eases Of the two Governments
have been presented to His Imperial
Majesty. The Commission to sit at
Washington has been appointed and Is
in session. The provisions Of the treaty
which require the consent of the Parlla
ment of the Dominion of Canada await
its assembling.
This at once opened a discussion, in
which the leader Of the opposition and
the Prime Minister WED with each other
in denouncing the American claim, and
Mr. Gladstone was led into the use of
Incorporate language, which he doubt
less very soor regretted, as it can have
no good effect anywhere.
Mr. Disraeli opened the discussion by
calling the attention Of the House to the
paragraph of the Royal speech in refer
ence to the arbitration of the Alabama
claims. He animadyerted at some length
upon the Treaty Of Washington, for the
faults Of which he blamed the Foreign
Secretary. Earl Granville, and the Prem.
ier, Mr. Gladstone. In view of the de-
yelopegnents which had been made by the
asscpblage of the arbitcrs at Geneva, Mr..
Diarael wanted to know Why the Govern
ment was exutant over the ediGcation it
had given to Parliament on the subject.
The ROyal speech was signify unsaIiatac-
tory, and showed, in lis opinion, that
the Government still lacked 4 proper ap-
probation Of the gravity Of the question
at issue between England and the Cnited
States. The American claims were great
ar than those which would follow total
conquest they were prcpusterous and
Epractlcai, and If admitted, would be
fatal to the power and honor Of Eng land.
Yet, said Mr.. Disraeli, snceringly. the
whole subject is disposed Il in Cue brief
paragraph Of the Roya! speech.
MIR. Gladstone followed III reply. lie
said the Treaty Of Washington itself
shows that England is. ready to make
every concession, short of national honor
to establish friendly relations with Amer
ica, and to set example TO be followed
by other nations henceforth. The Gov
ernment, said the premier, is ready to
explain everything In connection with
the Treaty, but it will not admit that it
has unwlttlngly made mistake. The
paragraph in the Treaty is the only fair
and unmistakable Interpretation of the
treaty. lie could. if he desired, refer
to the prepostCrous character Of the
American demand. which Of itself prov
ed their absurdity, for they were such as
no people IN the last extremity of war.
or in the lowest depths of national mis-
fortune with the spirit of the people OF
England in their hearts, would ever sub
NIT to. lCheers Mr. Gladstone con-
c!uded by saying the Government would
maintain the position it had taken firmly,
though III friendly manner,
The English papers generally discuss
the subject in modified tone, but it is
evident that either a great excitement
prevails in regard TO the matter, or that
an effort is made to produce a popular
impression that shall have its influence
upon the Court OF Arbitration. Now the
impropriety Of the course strikes the
public mind of Europe as already appears
from various expressions of opinion in
Germany, Austria and Belgium. The
Augsburg 4NGemeiae Zcitung, one of the
ables- journals of Europe. sets the com
parative silence aud great moderation of
the American press against the ill-con-
sidered ''clamor of the English journals, p"
and says that ''thc attempt of England
to forestall European Judgment and thus
gain national opinion in her favor Is fool
iSh as is is unjust" The Neue -Freie
PeSse, of Vienna. sums up the whole
question In the remark, England as
sumes to be party in the case and
judge Of its merits at one and the same
time." The Brussels Memorial Dipio
nlGtique declares 1.-The American claim
for Indirect damages is not a novelty, as
it was distinctly formulated in the treaty
protocol without protest on The rart.of
the British Commanders
Oar own government has taken nc Sc
ton in the case, and viii not reply to the
communication referred to in the Queen 5
speech until the text Is received by mail.
4 dispatch from our Minister at London.
Mr.. Schenck, states that the language of
the communication is the mildess possible
and that it does not even ask our govern
ment to retract or reconsider its claim OF
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