Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1872-02-06
THE GENEVA ARBITRATION.
clustering OF THE ENGLISH PRESS.

LONDON, Feb 3.-The Times 10. day declares
that England must Immediately give notice to
the Geneva arbitrators and to the American
Government if such action has not already
been taken, that if the American case Is re-
formed, arbitration may be happily concluded;
WASHINGTON, Feb. st IS said IN Official
circles that our Government has no information
which excteS fears that the Geneva arbitration
Will fail of its object, Notwithstanding the recent
comments of the London papers respecting the
American statement of the case before that TIL
bunal, and attention is called to the tact that IN
commissioning the British High Commission,
Queen Victoria pledged her royal word that
whatever things should be transacted and con-
cluded by her high commissioners should be
agreed to, acknowledged and regarded by her
in the fullest manner, and that she would never
suffer, either in whole or in part, any person
whOm$oever to infringe on the same or act con-
trary thereto, as far as lay III her power
The treaty act, it is known, provides that
should it appear that Great Britain has failed to
ill any duty or duties, as to the so called Ala
bama depradatiOns, and the Arbitrators 10 not
award to the United States a sum III gross, 1t Is
agreed that Il board of assessors shall be APP
pointed to ascertain what claims are valid, and
what amounts shall be paid by Great Britain on
account Of the liability arising from such fall
ure as to the exact vessel, according to the eX-
tent of such liability decided by the ArbltTa-
| tors.
1t appears from the protocol that az the con-
ference held here on the Sth inst, the AmerI-
can Commissioners claimed that Great Britain
by reason of failure in the proper observance OF
her duties as neutral, had become justly
liable for the acts Of the cruizers and traders
that the claims for the loss and destruction OF
private property which had thus far been pre-
scented amounted to about fourteen million dol
lars without interest which amount was liable
to be greatly increased by claims which had
not then been presented.
Opinions of New York Press or Situation.
WASHINGTON, Feb. J.-The New York dailies
all discuss the Washington Treaty troubles as a
serious matter. The Herald says:
'Of one stern fact the English Government
and people may rest we'll assured, that II deplo-
rable war must almost inevitably be the COnse-
quenCe of evasion of an honorable settlement
of the differences between the two nations I'M
der the tribunal which they themselves selected
If the action of the tribunal makes Great Brit
ain liable for the loss of our commerce and the
prOlOngatlOn of our civil war, the damages
awarded therefor must be paid peaceably or
they will be collected at the point Of the bayO-
net"
The Tj1,eS says the action of the British Gov
eminent will be Il .natter of surprise to the
Americans, who had supposed an honorable
and peaceful way had been found to settle the
ugly differences growing out of the Alabama
clalms. II 1t turns out our confidence was mis-
sources of bad feeling already too numerous.
The Tribune says Secretary Fish is authority
for complete denial of the report that negOtia-
tiOns for reform Of the American case had been
opened between England and America.
The Tribune editorially says it Is not TO be
seriously unprecedented that England will be
mlsled into folly Of repudiating arbitration on
pr'teXt. We are asking more than We have
a right to claim. If the popular claimor i'll
England should defeat the ministry on this
h. -
Washington, it is the United States that is the
feaviest lOOser by such Il course.
The World says if it shOnld appear that the
treaty was understood differently by the two
contracting parties, the question will arise,
whether this happened by any fault or Chicane-
fortunate that the Geneva Commission is called
upon to discharge its duties in the year Of
Presidential campaign. As things now look,
the Administration has over shot the mark in
trying to make party capital ont of this contro-
verSy, and If the treaty is rcpudiated, the pub
lie verdict will be that the President and his ad-
visers bungled great question instead Of set
Ting it.
The Feeling in Washington.
1t is stated that several days ago Governor
John Rose telegraphed to a banking house in
New York, with which he has business cOnnec-
tons, briefly abiding 10 the treaty of Wash
ington in the tone of the London press and
urging modification of the case as being abso-
lutely necessary to pacifcation of the British
and the support Of the ministry; and it is fur
Their said that the substance of this telegram has
been communicated to certain parties in this
city, with view to effect the desired object.
However true this may be, it is certain that the
accounts from England produce no excitement
whatever in executive and congressional circles,
nor is it considered that any complications be-
tween the countries can result from the agita-
ton Of the question in England, and it is believ-
ed the matters at issue will be settled in accord
ance with the terms of the treaty.
None the members of the two Committees
on Foreign Affairs have heard of any dissatis-
faction with the treaty apart from the London
papers, nor has their attention been called to
the subject by either the President or the Sec
rotary of State, and it is equally certain that
they and other members of Congress will stand
by the treaty as it is, without yielding to any
demands.which will affect its purposes; and such
is also said to be the determination of those con-
nected with the Executive Department, whose
right it was to present the American statement
Gifts case with as much earneStness as was eX-
ercised by the British themselves.