The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-04-06
mr. DisraeIl ForeshadOwing n solution of
tho Alabama Clnims Difficulty.

The speech of Mr. Disraeli at Manchester
confirms what we have said all along about
the trouble with England over the treaty to
settle the Alabama claims. The difficulty
springs from political considerations or the
political necessity Of the British Ministry, and
has been nursed for political object. We
say the difficulty springs from this, for, at the
same time that the British government pre-
tended to be astonished at the claims for con-
sequential damages set forth in the American
case, it knew that these claims had been
brought before the High Joint Commission,
and had never been abandoned. The British
government had every reason to believe that
the claim for consequential damages would be
submitted by the United States to the Geneva
Conference. 1t must have been convinced
OF this when the treaty was signed, for the mat
ter had been discussed by the Joint High Com
mission, and was left open. No bar to the
claim for consequential damages was inserted
in the treaty nor insisted upon by the British
Commissioners, though the question was dis
cussed. Ii it had not been understood as an
open question, aud that the United States were
not at.liberty to submit this claim to the Ge-
neva Conference. the British Commissioners
would undoubtedly have insisted upon clause
in the treaty barring the claim just as the
American Commissioners had demanded that
any claims for Fenian damages should be
excluded. The difficulty arose, then, with the
British Cabinet from an afterthought as to the
political use that could be made of it. The
Gladstone Ministry thought no doubt, that
making great noise over this question would
feed national vanity, awaken national pride,
touch the English in that most tender spot, the
pocket, and strengthen the power Of the
Cabinet.
We now see what dangerous ground the
Gladstone Ministry ventured upon, and the
Premier himself may cow have his eyes open
to this fact. The voice of Parliament and the
press responded at first to the strong language
of Mr. Gladstone and his colleagues when
they denounced the American case as prepos-
ment, in and out of Parliament, appeared to
be almost unanimous. Mr.. Dsraeli and the
opposition united with the mlnisterasts in
declaiming against what was termed the
absurd pretensions Of America. All this
must have beer fiattering to the Ministry. For
the time Mr. Gladstone seemed to have
united all parties and the public on d
great and delicate question, and he
thought, probably, that this promised a long
lease of power. But politicians, however
prominent, are uncertain in England as else
where, and public sentiment is tickle. Mr..
Dsraeli evidently believes he sees in this Ala
bama claims difficulty an opportunity to
seriously damage the Gladstone Ministry, and,
perhaps, to overthrow it. He, too, has an |
afterthought inspired by political considera-
tons. A new light has Illuminated his mind
since this fresh Alabama difficulty was first
sprung upon Parliament and the country.
Judging from the telegraphic report of his
speech delivered at Manchester, published in
the HERALD yesterday, he intends to take the
solution of this trouble away from Mr.. Glad
stone and to settle it himself. 1t may turn
out, therefore, that Mr.. Gladstone has over
reached the political object he had in view.
and that he may have fallen into trap while
imagining he was treading on more solid
ground.
Mr.. Dsraeli admits that it is impossible for
| America to recede from her position with
regard to the questions to be presented to the
| Geneva Board Of Arbitrators. When we look at
| all that has been said in Parliament and by the
press, at what Mr.. Disraeli himself has said,
and at his position, this is an extraordinary
| admission. 1t is the most important indi-
cation that has yet come from England
that there IS way still open for
an amicable settlement. Of course Mr.. Dis
| raeli does not contemplate war, and therefore,
when he says the United States cannot recede
from the position taken, 1t is natural to sup
pose he has some peaceful mode of settlement
in view, and that in which the British Govern
ment will have to yield True, Mr.. Disraeli
is reported to have said, in the course of hi
remarks, that he believed the record of Minis
terial incompetence would be sealed by the
ultimate acknowledgment of the principle of
indirect claims, the results whereof must be
fraught with utmost danger to England but
this must be taken as merely political TRADE
against the Ministry. He wants to head off
Mr.. Gladstone on this question of admitting
claims for consequential damages, and in a
sort Of rhetorical display talks of dreadful re-
suits. The great opposition leader, who wants
| to unseat Mr.. Gladstone and to take his
place, has too much sense to believe
there is any danger to England by ad-
hitting what he calls the principle of
| indirect claims. He knows well that il even
| these so-called- indirect claims were allowed
by the Geneva Board 1t would only result in
| the payment Of some millions which England
can very well afford to pay. He knows, also,
that as the case now stands 1t is only ques-
ton Of whether these claims shall be submit
| ted or not and that IL anhmittAd IL Ia lust as