The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-05-13
Favorable Chances Of an AMIGA
bic Settlement.
ENGLAND CONSENTS TO A COMPROMISE,
A Supplemental Ala
ba1na Treaty.
Consequential Damages TO Be Declared
Out of Court in Future.
WHAT TIE OFFICIALS SAY.

WASHINGTON, May IL, 1872
Yesterday morning Secretary Fish fastened
to the President with despatch received from
Minister Schenck informing him Of the &C
ceptance by the British government of the
final proposition he had made to Lord Gran
vile on Friday with respect to our conse-
quential claims This proposition was for
SHORT SUPPLEMENTAL TREATY,
bearing upon the question Of the indirect
claims alone. These claims, it was suggested
by Mr.. Fish, could be covered by fourth
retrospective rule, laid down for the guidance
Of the Geneva Tribunal, setting forth that
whenever the United States or Great Britain
was engaged in war and the other Power was
a neutral, and by want of due diligence on
the part Of the neutral any privateer or hos
tile vessel should escape from its waters, or
equip or renew its hostile strength in the
neutrars ports, the latter should
ONLY BE LIABLE FOR THE DIRECT DAMAGES
inflicted upon the belligerent by the opera
tons of such vessel. The effect of such an
understanding would be to enable the United
States to leave its whole case before the Tri-
bunal as originally presented, by removing
the objection that the British government has
heretofore raised, that the consequential claims
we had preferred found no sanct ion or war
ranty in the treaty.
THE AGREEMENT OF THE GLADSTONE MINISTRY
to this proposal of Friday was not hoped for,
until Mr.. Schencks despatch was received
on Saturday morning. and the position taken
in these dispatches on Friday night, that
arbitration on the treaty was virtually at ON
end, was in accordance with the belief then
entertained by the administration.
The President will tomorrow submit the
correspondence to the Senate in an Executive
communication; and ask that body to advise
49, = - ~
The leading republican Senators attended at
the White House yesterday evening, and had a
long conference with the President. 1t is
tolerably certain that the prospects of success
on Secretary Fishs project of supplemental
treaty were discussed, and that the consulta-
ton will tend materially to insure its favor
able consideration by the Senate.
What the Government officials Think OF
the Status Quo.
WASHINGTON, May IL, 1872.
While 1t is generally believed, from newspaper
statements that the Treaty OF Washington will fail
OF execution, gentlemen In official positions are not
willing to make such admission. Nothing OF the off,
cial correspondence between the United States and
Great Britain which has taken place since the
respective statements of the case have
been filed with the Geneva tribunal has
been given to the public; but enough
Is known through other channels to
apprehended danger to the treaty, owing to the
objection Of the British government to the presen-
tatiOn OF claims for consequential damages and in
effect asking for their withdrawal as movement
preliminary to an arrangement affecting future
belligerency and neutrality, and our refusal to &C
cede to Its wishes. Private letters from
London, recently received here, say positively
that the British government win withdraw from
the Geneva Tribunal rather than go before 1t with
our claims for consequential damages pending. No
such threat has, however, reached our government.
The question Is now where 1t was several months
when 'the friendly note" Directing to our preseen.
tatcf OF that class OF claims was received by this
government, the original positions OF the two
countries not having been in the least degree
changed by the correspondence. The reply of Sec
rotary Fish to the last communication received from
London will not reach its destination for eight or
ten days; and as the two governments, where there
is no need for haste do not conduct their diplomacy
by means OF kilograms, as important errors may
occur in their transmission, II for other reason
il cannot now be said that the treaty has failed,
while the Executive Department of the govern
ment Is committed against Withdrawing the claims
for consequential damages and In effect deny that
England should by implication dictate to US mod-
fcation of the American statement OF the case, 1t
does not follow that negotiation is at an end.
In this condition of misunderstanding between the
two nations, and while this government does not
oxpect any moneyed consideration for consequent
tial damages, but desires all claims OF whatever
character to be disposed Of forever by the tribunal
OF arbityators 1t will continue the correspondence
in the hope Of removing the difficulty, so that # the
treaty shall fail the responsibility will rest with
Great Britain, and not with the United States.