The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-06-25
and consideration on the tribunal, that decision


EITHER FOR OR AGAINST THIS CLASS OF CLAIMS
may be arrived at and tho matter disposed or Mr.
Davis telegraphed to-day that he believed that q
majority OF the Board would accept the view taken
by our government and the question would be dis
posed of in a manner entirely satisfactory to us.
Contrary to reports from Geneva, it is ascertaincd
fr ON Official source that no negotiations In
progress for a new supplemental treaty. Such
course is considered unnecessary, in consequence
OF the alleged decision ruling out OF the tribunal the
claims for indirect damages. During a recent con-
versa ton with President Grant he said that every
thing which has been done by Secretary Fish rea-
tive to the Treaty of Washington was with his ull
concurrence, and therefore the responsibility OF the
diplomatic action did not entirely rest upon that
ofilcer-in other words, they were in accord upon
the subject.
The following letter belongs to the correspond
ence published this morning, and is expressive OF
the views Of the agent Of the United States ut
Geneva:-
MR.. BANCROFT DAVIS LETTER.
PARIS, May %, 1872
SIR have the honor to acknowledge the receipt
of your No. IS of the Sth inst shall not be aston
ished If the present efforts at settlement In Wash
ington are not successful. II they succeed ana
plain. II they fail practical question will be pre-
sented for solution, namely-whether we are to be
at Geneva on the 18th of June, ready to proceed,
whatever notice England may have given to the
Tribunal. find that there Is some difference OF
opinion on that point. My own Judgment is decided
that the interests of the United States, as well
GOOD FAITH TOWARDS THE NEUTRAL POWERS,
who have appointed arbitrators at our re-
quest, require to be there. II the question
were between the United States and Great Britain
only, it would be a matter Of little consequence,
because whatever the Court might do could not
tcipate that England would pay heed to it, and we
should run the risk Of an award which England
might set up against us, without the chance OF an
award which England would listen to our setting
up against her. But Great Britain is not alone with
us in the arbitration and it seems to me that we
owe 1t to the neutral Powers to let them that
do not admit the right OF either Of the ltigants
to retire from the arbitration without first consult
ing the other Powers whom we have for this pur-
pose and to this extent made parties to the treaty
In face OF the neutral Powers
ENGLAND CANNOT RETIRE
from the arbitration, and II she attempts to retire
on the 18th OF June correspondence with the
neutral Powers must ensue unless we stay away ;
also propose to act on this theory unless receive
from the government instructions by telegraph or
said, there is a difference of opinion as to the policy
of doing propose to do and therefore think it
! right to say what has been said on this subject.
! The Joint High Commission grew out Of previous
correspondence between the Secretary of State and
| the British Minister at Washington. That CORE
spondence made provision, among other things, for
the submission to that body of the differences be-
tween the growing out of the acts OF the
| cruisers generally known as the Alabama claims
At the first conference of the Joint Commissioners,
| In which the Alabama claims were discussed, the
| Secretary OF State in written paper,
DEFINED THE CLAIMS
| which were referred to in the correspondence.
| The British Minister listened to this definition
without objection or cavi. Long negotiations en-
| sued, which resulted in the submission of THESE
| claims nearly in the language OF the correspond
ence and without any limitations. This statement,
so made by the Secretary of State and assented to
by the British Minister, was Incorporated verbatim
| into the case, as the only authentic statement
which had been passed upon by the trainers of the
treaty. Independently therefore, Of the over
| whelming
PROOF OF THE PREVIOUS KNOWLEDGE OF GREAT
| BRITAIN
OF these national claims and of her acquiescence IL
them presented, by delaying for several week.
to take any objection to them, and hold 1t to b'
clear on the record of the Joint High Commission
alone that 1t would have been cause for grave
| censure If these claims had not been presented as
they were. 1t was not thought necessary either
the part OF Great Britain of the United States,
to discuss the law Of damages in the opening
The author OF the American case however, sufi-
ciently indicated his personal opinions in the Ian
guage in which the third and fifth classes OF claims
were presented In the former the tribunal was
asked to estimate the injuries which the United
that the United States
COULD NOT ESTIMATE THEIR INJURIES,
and that it would perhaps be impossible for any
one to do So and the tribunal was asked to deter.
mine whether Great Britain ought not in equity
to make compensation to the United States
Whether well i'll founded it was, in my judg
ment clearly the duty of the President under the
treaty to present these claims, leaving 1t to the
tribunal to decide what they were worth. Some OF
the leading journals in America were
CONTROLLED BY BRITISH WRITER'S
whose articles in favor of England quoted as
evidences of American opinion. although American
rights and interests were Of little account with
persons OF such hermaphrodite nationalities
| LEADING PRoPRIETORs IN THE CABLE
between England and America hurried to Washing
ton to save their property from the depreciation
which, would follow rupture between the two
countries however remote and improbable. All
there sayings were repeated in London and Havre,
and served to consolidate opinion in England and
to lead the public to think that there Is division
In America.
have the honor to be, sir your obedient servant,
| J. G. 3. DAVIS.
To Hon. HAMILTON FISH, Secretary of State.
DREADFUL STORY OF DIAMOND RING.
AS already stated, among the victims of the re-
cent railroad smash-up at Metuchen, N j., was a
Danish couple named Potasscn, but two months
married, Mr.. Potassen being the son OF Danish