New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-02-22
DEBATE IN THE HOUSE OF LORDS
THE RELATIONS WITH NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. OF
TIE DUKE OF RICHMOND AND LORD GRAN


THE RELATIONS WITH NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. OF
TIE DUKE OF RICHMOND AND LORD GRAN
VILE.
On the 9th inst. in the House of Lords, the
Lord Chancellor having read the Queens speech tho Earl
dc Ia Ware moved address in TO the speech
from the throne. The motion seconded by VscOunt
PowcrscOurt. In the of the discussion that
sued, the Duke of Richmond spoke rs follows:
reed with great regret that in TIE case submitted on
cludcd which arc understood TO he uotwhn the province
OF the arbitrator regret to find that Her Maestys GOV
condition Of things could not arise. reoiec to ind that
communication has been made to thsm by 'ne Inter
great rendncss but at the same time OF great
decision that there be no mp,ake whatever as 10
the opinion Of Her Aajssy's Government Hear hearl
should be glad TO know when this communication was
Ministers having ascertained the views Of the Govern
ment of the United States.
Lord Granville. in replying on behalf OF tho Govern
mcnt after touching upon two topics of minor i'm
portance, said TO gubject which has been
touched upon by those who have preceded me- and one
which has very deeply moved the public mind of this
country refer 10 OF the fFse claims mado by the
Government t1.e United Stats IN the Case they have
submitted to tho arbitrators under the Treaty or
Washington. Ny noble frienI asked whether Her
Majesty's Government sent immediate reply
to that Case. I an happy to say we cd no such
thing because, upon questioncwhch may possibly lead
TO differences between the two countries, II advisable
to proceed calmly and deliberately, ana nsI 10 how
away the slightest chance OF coming TO an aSfeeenth
it Is possible to do So TseTe were different "ays
in which, and times at when, we, coud begin
these communications; we considered them al each
had its ADVANTAGES ana cen rs dSiuo anu
10 the public opinion OF this country. 1t would tend moro
cussOn and to strengthen jur po'lon ana IL wolt DC
more straightforward and fair to tho United States
communication OF the general charaotcr ihhdnated
by Her Majesty's speech Many references nave re-
which your ordshpS wiz recollect made in this House,
last year respecting the Interpretation Whlch lier
ceS the direct claims which Nj Fish had put
forward In the protocols, and mado the remark that
many OF those claims To which We were liable under
the tauey-JOhnson Convention had entirely dlsap,
peared and were closed by the limits HI tne feiGence
nresence Of The represcnatyes Of different foreign
nations, and those who most likely TO take
m nm was corrobGIaed both by nay noble fricnd
Secretary of state for India. That statement
Goyernment then, ana 1t Is the opinion OF that GOV.
vernlnent now. support Of that view viii cite
the 4th OF August last by Sir stafford Northcote who
had supported the action OF the Governments, and
who. in a philosophical manner, had given assist
ance to the Government by going out as High Com
missioner to discharge one OF the most difficult
tasks q Commission ever had TO perform.
That right honorable gentleman SAID Tho honorable
and learned member for Richmond Slr Rounded Palmer
in his observations as to the TCh inc ileay
possessed Conventions which had been previously
remssed Sa' not t adoSe had aSWe
| the introduction OF number OF claims when
could never have been aultteu ~ Iact uhey were 90
vague that would have been possible for the Americans
TO have raised number OF questions which the Commits
sioners were unwilling TO submit to arbitration. They
might have raised the question with regard to the ecO
| milton Of beligerency with regard 10 con-
| structivo damages arising out Of this recOgni-
! ton OF beHgerency, and a number OF other
| matters which this country could not admit
But II honorable gentlemen would look TO the terms
of the Treaty actually contracted they would that
the Commissioners followed the subjects closely by
making reference only TO list growing out OF the acts
OF particular vessels and IN so doing shut out large
class of claims which the Americans had previously in
Tho had
| from being raised before the Arbltrators."
1 am not quite where the quotation OF Sir RQun-
dell Palmer il supposed 10 end but think the whole
passage establishes without the slightest doubt what
| was the intention OF the Government and OF Her
| Maiestys Commissioners In negotiating the Treaty
| L agree entirely with the noble ViscOunt who
! said, with much discretion, that this is mot
the proper time TO go further into the matter When
the proper time comes, II 1t Is necessary trust
shall able to show TO ordships, TO the public
here, and TO the American Government, by reference
70 protocols and speeches 10 the statements OF the Com
ni5siOhers and former correspondence on the sub
! rct not only what was our Intention but also
| what we had reason 10 suppose was the III
| tention OF the United states GQyeIlpelt, and,
cluded by the words Of tho Treaty. Assured am OF
the common which h peculiarly characteristic
| OF the people OF the United States, trust and
| believe that when they Put pun, themselves In our
! any tribunal however hign, claims 80 large and
so indefinite that estimates pade Of their amounts
| in this case appear ridiculous, and yet might,
without exaggerltiOn, b. rebled or q1ddruped they
NOu may depend upon II that on the one hand the Gov
will sacrifice the rights OF TINS country ana
the other, nothing sHal b. wanting On our part TO
bring about satisfactory and aniciM5 solution OF this
/ most important question.
Tao address subsequently carried no one dissent
| Ana, a INA. II.