New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-05-14
THE DIPLOMATIC MIDDLE.
THE QUESTION OF INDIRECT CLAIMS DIS
c,rSSrn IN THE british PARLIAMENT.

Nun, o,,rer,oN or INDIRECT CLAIMS DIS
CUsSED IN THE BRITISH fAhLlANihNi.
STATEMENT BY MR.. G LApsiS~r ,s pPoPABIT--
SernTi,rR PosrPoNEMENr OF EARL RUsSELLs
NOTION LONDON. Monday, May IS, 1874
~, rJ,,o ~ Commons this evening. Mr.. Glad
..oro made his promised explanation of the negoti-
.ono REGARDING the indirect claims and OF the posi-
,;on tal,en by the Government. The House was full
and tbe galleries crowded Mr. Gladstone on rising
was greeted with cheers. He said in order to anow
an opportunity for discussion on the statement ne
was about TO make he would bring formal motion
for the adjournment of the House.
After allnding in terms of praise to the 1orpeai-
anee shown By Parliament during the controversy,
Mr.. Gladstone said he would begin his narrative y,
its progress with the 18th of January, when u rst
became known to him that the claims for indirece
damages had been presented at Geneva IN the Aleii
can Case Der Majesty's Government protested on
the Sd of February that the indirect claims were no'
within the scope of the Treaty OF Washington nor
within the intention of either party to the treaty
Secretary Fish replied in April that he thought the
Geneva Board ought to decide the entire question
Tbetone of Mr. Fishs dispatch wasmostcourteous. In
,ho moan time communication wasreceived from MI
sebenck the American Minister, suggesting ano'nei
conrse which would be acceptable TO England anu
America This was an interchange OF notes setuhs
forth the views terms and conditions whereoh oo'n
1onId agree TO proceed TO arbitration we accepteu
This suggestion. continued Mr. Gladstone, and car
ned on the correspondence altogether 10y telegraph
On Wednesday, the 6th instant, President
Grant submitted a proposition TO inc
United States Senate. On Thursday we asceI-
tanned that the proposition was not precSeiy
aswe understood it should be- because of the breHly
l.agh1 \ W. III.
Friday draft covering the letter of our views was
tor,yorded IN Minister Schenck, and although long,
Il was Immediately telegraphed by him to Washing
4on On Saturday Mr. Schenck informed Lord Gran
vile that the President had accepted and the Sem
ate entertained that draft. Mr. Gladstone thought
this fact was almost equivalent to ratlhca-
ton. He begged the further forbearance OF the
House now that the question was APP
p-oaching a satisfactory issue, honorable alike
10 both NATIONS If successful in this negotla-
tiop Her Maiestys Government had right to exact
rraise for settling a momentOus question. The last
proposal on the part Of Great Britain sustained tne
position taken by the Government in the queens
speech at the beginning of the present session. MI
Gladstone in conclusion said he thought he was not
too sanguine in predicting that the negotiations
would result in a settlement which womb redouhu
to the credit of both parties.
As Mr. Gladstone took his seat, there was load and
repeated cheering from all parts of the House. Mr.
Disrael followed with thanks to the Premier for his
statement He should not seek to embauass the
Government. Whatever differences existed on
other subjects all parties were united in the desire
for peaceful and honorable settlement.
In the House of Lords, Earl Granville made n
statement similar to that of Mr.. Gladstone Earl
Russell again postponed his motion for an address
10 tie Crown to withdraw from arbitration. He
bored the question was no longer one between the
honor OF the Crown and the reelection of President
Grant. The Eayl of Derby and the Duke of Rich
mond expressed the hope that the new proposition
OF the British Government was unambiguous. They
had heard enough OF misunderstanding.