Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1872-05-08
The Geneva Arbitration.

The situation OF affairs between the United
States and England seems to be less hopeful
than it was one week ago, and mlsinter
probation of Secretary Fish's last note to
Lord Granville has caused a complication
and muddle, that leaves matters no farther
advanced towards a final settlement than
when the original Case was presented. 1t
is stated that when Lord Granville made his
first protest against the claims for indirect
damages. Mr.. Fish replied that the right OF
the United States to submit those claims for
arbitration was undoubted that we inten-
ded to stand By our case as submitted, and
that the Geneva Conference was the only
tribunal which could decide the question of
it's own jurisdiction.
The language of the American Case, it is
held, implied that some money award was
expected on the part of this government.
Now it is intimated that in official quarters
no money award for indirect damages
Is expected or desired. After Granville's
second letter of protest, April 10Th, Secretary
Fish apparently became convinced that the
British government would withdraw from
the Geneva Conference, unless some
understanding was arrived at, and sent a
letter or dispatch to Gen. Schenck, saying
that the United States Government, in sub
hitting the claims for indirect damages, did
50 not in the hope that a favorable award
would be made on them, but with desire
to have the great question of the extent
of a nations responsibility for such dam
ages passed upon and that we should be
better pleased if they were rejected than if
they were allowed. provided that decision
could stand as a precedent in the future.
This dispatch was followed by a longer one
April 9th, directing Gen. Sehenck to IN
form the British Government of the feeling
Of the administration on this subject, and
TO intimate that if Great Britain would pro
pose to the United States that some under
standing be arrived at in regard to the ques-
ton at issue, the United States would con
slider it friendly spirit.
The reply to this dispatch received on Fri
day last was Of such nature as to cause the
Administration to call on the Foreign Com
mittees Of Congress for counsel. It seems
Lord Granville has interpreted the intima-
tion which be has received, as an unconiition-
al surrender. Secretary Fish insists that he
has made no proposition to Great Britain
and that he has only given Granville to un-
derstand that proposition from him wou Ia
be considered Granville even intimates
that he wants time to consider the expedi
ency Of accepting a surrender which the
Secretary claims has not been offered.
That things are badly mixed is quite evi
dent, and it is reported that member q
the House Committee told Mr.. Fish that
he ought to have called in the physi.
clans before the patient got into so bad a
way. The London Times of last Saturday
urges President Grant to send to the Gene
va Tribunal communication which shall
supersede the original American Case con
tanning the claims for consequential DANA
yes. which to say the least IS not an over
modest request. The upshot Of the whole
matter seems to be that the two Governments
having failed to understand each other in the
which has taken place be-
tween Secretary Fish and Lord Granville, the
matters at issue stand about where they
did at the opening Of the Geneva Conference.
It l. impossible to avoid the impression that
our Government somehow ha weakened
in the transaction, and that the British
Government has been emboldened thereby.
Gen. Butler gave notice in the House on
that he should introduce a resolu
ton declaring it to be the sense Of Il at body
that the Government stand by the Case az
presented.