Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1872-06-26
The Treaty.

The arbitrators have cut the Gordian knot
which neither British nor American skill
could unite. For months the two Govern.
ments have been bogging over difficulty
which the Geneva arbitration has settled in a
few days, and settled in favor Of Mother the
United States nor England. The claim for
indirect damages is rejected by the court on
the ground that no money is involved. This
ought to satisfy both powers. The United
States has all the time averred that it did not
want any money, though why it should have
presented q claim for the cost Of the war, il
it did not want the money, has been a grce'
puzzle to all undipomatic, simple people. 30
our government ought to be satisfied. And
England has been thrown Of her balance lest
the court should give damages against her on
the indirect claims, so that now she ought to
feel easy. We sec it stated, however that the
arbitrator on the part Of Great Britain is not
satisfied with the decision. lie wishes to
have the arbitrators decide that these claims
are not provided for 10 the treaty Its diff.
cult to extermiuate ghosts. 1t would seem
that these indirect claims will not down, even
at the bidding Of the arbtrators. So long as
there is ghost Of a chance to make political
capital out of the affair we expect that the
consequential damages, like Banquo's ghost,
will rise to scare and worry the cabinets
1t must DO admitted that this matter has
been conducted on both sides in such a way
as to disgust the people with the tricks aud
articles Of diplomacy. If there is any spe.
cies of intercourse which ought to be managed
with high honor, without any subterfuge,
with exceeding care and sincerity and veracity
it is that between nations. There are inter
ests Of vast scope and duration, involving un
told treasures aud millions Of individuals, il
the present and in the future, which are at
fected by diplomatic intercourse. They ough
not therefore to be managed in the interest o
party political expedients or Of present per
sona exigencies. They ought to be con
Quoted with the utmost fairness and truthful.
ness, without trick or attempt at overreach
ing There was a sharp sarcasm in Chevaliei
Bunsen's remark to a diplomatist on one occas
ion, always speak the truth, said he, "becaus,
people will then precisely believe that you dc
not speak the truth" Nor was it in jes
merely that Sir H. Wotton defined an ambas
sndor as person who was sent to ale
abroad for the benefit of his country
Diplomacy has always been more or les'
characterized by falschood, concealment and
chicane. But now that the people, quite as
much as the Kings and Cabinets, have come
to have an interest in international affairs, and
are thoughtful and intelligent about them, il
is certainly desirable to abandon the tradi
tionary ideas Of diplomacy, the ancient meth
DDS of conducting it, and follow such prin
ciples and methods as honorable and high
minded men would use in the management oil
their mutual relations. The mudde in which
this whole matter has been involved and is
happy settlement by neither Of the treaty
making powers, but by the court Of arbitra
ton will probably have the effect to bring
the diplomacy of the future out Of " the ways
that are dark and the tricks that are vain, u
and render its conduct more transparent and
less indirect aud oblique.