The Tiffin tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1868-1887, 1872-05-16
The Alabama Claims Question

LONDON, May 13.-In the House Of
| Commons this evening, Mr.. Gladstone
made the promised explanation of the
negotiations regarding the indirect
claims and of the position taken by
the government. The house was full
/ and the galleries crowded. Mr.. Glad
stone, on rising, was greeted with
cheers. He said in order to allow an
opportunity for discussion on the state.
ments he was about to make, he would
bring a formal motion for the ad-
jOurnment of the House. After
aIluding In terms of praise to the for.
bearance shown by Parliament during
the controversy, he said he would
commence the narrative Of its pro-
gress with the 18th of January, when
it first became known to him that
claims for indirect damages had been
presented at Geneva in the American
case.
Her majesty's government protested,
on the Sd of February, that indirect
claims were not 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:
The tone of Mr.. Fish's dispatches was
most courteous. In the meantime a
communication was received from
Mr.. Schenck, American Minister, ,sug-
gesting another course which would
be creditable to England and Ameri-
ca. This was an interchange of notes
setting forth the views, terms and
conditions whereon both would agree
to proceed with arbitration.
We accepted this suggestion, con-
tinued Gladstone, and carried on the
correspondence by telegraph. On
Wednesday, the Sth inst, President
Grant submitted the proposition to
the United States Senate. On Thurs
day weascertained that the proposition
was not precisely as we understood
it should be because of the brevity
of the cable dispatches, on which il
was based. On Friday draft cover
ing the letter of our views was for
warded to Minister Schenck and,
although lengthy, was Immediately
telegraphed by him to Washington.
On Saturday Mr.. Schenek informed
Granville that the President had ac.
cepted and the Senate entertained
that draft. Mr.. Gladstone thought
this fact was almost equivalent to
ratification. He begged the further
fOrbearance of the House, now that
the question was approaching salts
factory issue, honorable alike to both
nations. II successful in this negotia-
tion, Her Majesty's government had
the right to exact praise for settling
a mOmentOus question. The last pro-
posal on the part of Great Britain
sustained the position taken by the
in the Queens speech at
the beginning of the preseut session.
Mr.. Gladstone, in conclusion, said
he thought he was not too sanguine
in predicting that the negotiations
would result in a settlement which
would rebound TO the credit of both
parties. AS Gladstone took his seat
there was loud and repeated cheering
from all parts of the house.
Mr.. Disraeli followed with thanks
10 the Premier for his statement. He
should not seek to embarrass the gov
eminent. Whatever differences ex-
sted on other subjects, all parties were
United in a desire for a peaceful and
honorable settlement. In the House
If Lords, BIr. Granville made state
nent similar to that of Mr.. Glad
tone.
EaI Russell again postponed his