Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1872-02-26
HON. CHARLES FRANCIS ADAMS
ON THE DIFFICULTY WITH
ENGLAND.


ENGLAND.
Hon. Charles Francis Adams, the dis
tinguished American statesman who rep
resents the United States at the Geneva
Court of Arbitration reached New York
on Wednesday, having come back to this
country on private business, and was in
terviewed by reporter on the all i'm
portant subject of the Treaty of Wash
ington. The conversation ran as fol-
! lows:
Reporter. l presume, sir, that you
have brought some interesting informa-
ton regarding the present differences be-
tween this country and Great Britain.
Mr.. Adams. l have little information
beyond what is known to everybody. In
my official capacity while in England I
kept entirely aloof from the controversy.
In fact Geographic communication to the
newspapers has been so rapid and ample
that on my arrival in New York [ learn
ed one or two things which l did not
know before.
Reporter. To what do you allude, sir
Mr.. Adams. [ refer to the cable dis
patch containing the announcement of
Mr. Gladstone in Parliament as to the
date when copy Of the American cease"
was received by the British Government.
Reporter. Are you hopeful, sir, that
the controversy about the American
claim for consequential damages will be
amicably settled, or do you think that
the Treaty of Washington will be a fail
ure and that the Court of Arbitration
, will not meet at all?
Mr.. Adams. So far nothing has oc.
Cured which warrants my saying that
the treaty will be failure. | left Lon
don when the greatest excitement pre-
,, vailed. 1t was on the evening when
Mr.. Gladstone rucrlo his hseety, inoonsid.
: crate speech, which read just before my
, departure. But since then Mr.. Glad
stone has modified his language. In his
two following speeches he took back
} much of what he had said at first.
7 Reporter. Is there any likelihood that
! the British Government will consent tc
pay the consequential damages in q
l lump sum outside of arbitration
5 Mr.. Adams. The real question is not
about paying damages, but about admit
D ting the claim of consequential damages
within the province of the Court of Ar
bitration. Mr.. Gladstone holds tina
g such claim is not recognized by tn
D treaty, and has also declared himsel
against the payment of consequential
damages in a lump sum.
Reporter. Then, if the English Gov
). eminent will not admit such claims t.
e arbitration nor settle them in any othe
n way, what good is there likely to com
of the treaty, since our Government can
: not recede from it's present attitude?
S Mr.. Adams. l have no official info1
h nation of the intentions of our Govern
4 ment. 1t is doubtless possible that thi
- may prove stumbling block to the ez
U ecution of the treaty. But Mr.. Glad
|. stones declaration may not be final. H
!, has been known to modify his speeche
and his opinions In the heat of debat
Il he allows himself to be carried away an
Is to overshoot his mark He evidentl
a did not mean all he said at first
sc Reporter. Then he was, as Disrae
= once said, on one of his 'pilgrimages
O. passion %
1t Mr.. Adams (smiling). The tone
e. Mr.. Disraeli's speech was more tempe
20 ate. He did not commit himself to sue
extreme statements. The Earl of Dert
~ and the Duke of Richmond, who may
e considered leaders of the Tory part
n were moderate compared to Mr.. Gla
. stone
Reporter. Was public opinion in En-
t. land very strong on the subject VIII,
m you left, sir?
es Mr.. Adams. The newspapers, viii,
10 reflect public opinion, were almost una
~ imous in opposing the American clai
P of consequential damages.
ne Reporter. Might not the recogniti
IS of this claim upset the Gladstone Min
try?
Mr.. Adams. Yes, that is quite prob
ng BILE. Mr.. Gladstone is not so strong
en- he was three years ago.
to Reporter. Perhaps Tory Minist
DID would be more disposed to make sat
ext factory settlement.
md Mr.. Adams. l think so !; for the ]
My ries have not committed themselves
ans far as the liberals. They would ha
ent more liberty of action. They have n,
no er been friendly enough to the Americ
err people to expose themselves to the
'fh- proach of partiality in favor of the Z
not ted States.
on, Reporter When do you expect,
hat to return to Europe?
PITY Mr.. Adams. l have decided moth
be as to that. | have come back on priv
an business altogether-on account of
by wife's i'll health-and if l 90 to Eur
lag again | shall take her with me that
lay. If her state of health will allow it.
led Reporter. If not l suppose you ,
hey not return at ALL?
has Mr.. Adams. Well, l decide moth
are until the moment for decision arrives
very have been negotiating for house
be Geneva, so far [ have made no cha
lay. in my original arrangements.
edi- Reporter. Is the present dific,
last with England likely to reach st
pos where war is unavoidable i?
hem Mr.. Adams | do not think so.
r. though the failure of the Treaty
Washington may prove serious dar