Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-05-14
The Treaty of Washington.


The president to-day transmitted to the SEN
ate the correspondence between the United
States and Great Britain relative to the treaty
OF Washington, accompanied with brief mes
sage. The envelope bore the word "cOnfiden-
tial." A short time after the reception OF the
documents the senate went into executive SEES
sion, when they were read. 1t appears the de-
sign of the president was to ascertain the views
OF the senate as to new article to
the treaty, withdrawing the claims for
consequential damages from the American
statement of the case; with the provision, which
IS in substance that whenever England or the
United States shall be at war and the other Il
neutral, the belligerent will make no complaints
for any indirect, remote or consequential iniu-
rleS or losses resulting from failure to observe
neutral duties. As it is known that Great Brit
ain will agree to the proposed new article, and
that both governments are anxious to save the
treaty by this means, it was thought proper to
place the senate i'll possession of all the facts in
order that the executive, acting upon their adj
vice, might pursue the negotiation as TO Sc
cure the contamination OF the treaty in "a man
ner satisfactory to the two governments
There was Il brief debate after the reading of
the documents, involving the merits OF the ques-
tiou. A motion was made to remove the in
junction of secresy; but this failed, and the
message and documents were then ordered
to be printed in confidence and referred to the
committee on foreign relations.
There is scarcely question that the senate
Gle to the treaty.
FROM MIR. GLADSTONE AND EARL GRANVILLE.
LONDON, May 13.-ln the commons this eve
ming MIR. Gladstone made his promised eXpla
nation of the negotiations regarding indirect
claims, and of the position taken by the govern
ment. The house was full and the galleries
crowded. Mr.. Gladstone, in rising was greeted
with cheers. He said that in order to allow op-
portunity for discussion on the statements he
was about to make, he would bring a formal
mOtiou fpr aIipurnnpnt pf no hnu A
luding, in terms of praise, to the iorbearance
shown by parliament during the controversy he
said he would commence his narrative of its
progress with the 18th of january, when it first
became known to him that the claims for ind
rect damages had been presented at Geneva in
the American case. Her maiesty's government
protested on the 3D. OF February that the indi-
rect claims were not within the scope
of the treaty of Washington nor with
in the intention of either party to the treaty.
Secretary Fish replied in April that
he thought the Geneva board ought to de-
eide the entire question. The tone OF Mr.. Fish's
dispatches was most courteous. In the mean
time a communication was received from Mr.
Schenck, American minister, suggesting another
course which would be acceptable TO England
and America. This was an interchange of notes
setting forth the views, terms and conditions
wherein both would agree to proceed to arbi-
traton. We accepted the suggestion, continued
Mr.. Gladstone, and carried on the correspond
ence altogether by telegraph. On Wednesday,
the 9Th inst, President Grant submitted a propo.
siton to the United States senate On Thursday
we ascertained that the proposition was precise
ly as we understood it should be- because of the
brevity of the cable dispatch on which it was
based On Friday draft covering the letter
OF our views was forwarded to Minister Schenck
and, although lengthy, was Immediately tele-
graphed by him to Washington. On Saturday
Mr.. Schenck informed Lord Granville that the
president had accepted and tue senate
entertained that draft. Mr.. Gladstone
thought this fact was almost equiv
aent TO a ratification. He begged further
forbearance of the house, now that the question
was approaching satisfactory issue, honorable
alike to both nations, If successful in this ne.
gotiation, her malestys government had Il right
to exact praise for settling momeutous ques.
ton. The last proposal on the part of Great
Britain sustained the position taken by the gov
ernment in the queens speech at the beginning
OF the present session. Mr.. Gladstone, in con-
clusion, said he thought he was not too SAN
gune IN predicting that the negotiations would
result in u settlement which would rebound TO
the credit of both parties,
AS MIR. Gladstone took his seat there was loud
and repeated cheering from all parts of the
house.
Mr. Dtsraeli followed with thanks to the pre-
mlef lor ms statement He should not seek to
emoarrass the government whatever differences
existed on other subjects. All parties were
united in the desire for d peaceful and honora-
bic settlement.
In the house of lords Earl Granville made
statement similar to that of Mr. Gladstone.
Earl Russell again postponed his motion for
an address to the crown to withdraw from the
arbitration. lie hoped the question was no
longer one between the honor Of the crown and
the reelection of President Grant.
Earl Derby and the Duke Of Richmond ex-
pressed the hope that the new proposition of the
British government was unambiguous They
had heard enough OF MISUNDERSTANDING.