The Cairo daily bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1870-1872, 1872-03-03
THE BULLETIN.
THE TRAMPLED TREATY

GRAVE POSITION or ArFAtrS --riiE PEt,I-
pENTs PLAS--sE SECRETARY FISH : PLAN
-EvERYRopY's Plan THE TREATY
NrsT PAIL THROUGH WHAT THES
lco,resrordence New Yotk Hcrald.l
W,suINGTo~, F"h. 27-.Thcro IS TO
doubt that Sir Edward Thornton, the
British Minister, has been entrusted by
his government to inform the government
Of the United States that unless the claim
for consequential damages is withdraw
there can be no settlement at Geneva.
The answer 10 Lord Granville's note,
which has been so long delayed, and the
substance of which has already been print
ed in the Herald was again discussed IN
the cabinet meeting to-day. but II u gwen
out that ii will not be sent before Satur-
day. Mr. Fish having withdrawn 1t to
change it, phraseology So ~ TO make IT.
tone less Objectionable. The delay
is understood to be one OF public
policy and political necessity, and to have
special reference 10 the difficulties which
surround the qucstion. II is impossible
for US to recede from the position taken in
the American case, ard this will not b."
done. The position assumed by the En-
glish government and the English COM
missioncrs is peri city understood by our
government and our CON missioncrs. Ihcy
stand dicectly opposed to each other on
questions of fact, a. on questions ot poll
icy hut when it comes to proof the ihh-
guage of the treaty. the meaning OF 'he
protocols and thefndepcndent evidence in
the hands Of the state department arc al
claimed n conclusive for our side. But II
is not denied IN official circles that there is
IL serods dilemma, and that neither slde
can recede. Everybody j. looking about
Tor some plan 10 relieve tie h~kwardne-s
of the situation, and if possible to secure
the settlement Of the case without war.
This was the meaning Of the informal sug-
gestion to the British ministry to settle the
whole matter for 100000 600 and the plan
may or may not have significance just a.
the game chances TO turn.
In view Of the treaty, and Of every
other form OF settlement, the President J.
mcditatinr a coup detot. which he may
make at any time. II his plan is adopted
it will cossi.t in reiteratiOn in special
message 10 Congress Of his recommendn-
tions in hi annual message Of 1870, and the
payment of the Alabama claimants by Our
government, in the form OF bonds, the
government of the United States Ioaning
TO Great Britain for reimbursement. On
the other hand. the claimants themselves
are moving, and propose TO look directly
TO the BRUSH government for payment II
the treaty fails. The last mode "f set
tlcment is not looked upon with favor by
the Secretary Of State, thongh the Prcsi-
dent sees no objection to. 1t.
The claimant. before the Mixed Claims
Commission in this city, whose consler-
nation at the probable failure Of the treaty
was printed IN the Herald TO day, are
equally interested with the claimants for
direct damages before the tribunal at
Geneva. and it is feared that the one class
will be an insurmountable obstacle to the
success of the other should either attempt
settlement on their own account. all
these plans go upon the theory, which
may be accepted a. fact, that arbitration
is ended; that all the provisions Of the
treaty fall to the ground.
The possibility of war is not overlooked
by our government, though the possibility
OF settlement, in spite of the fuilure OF the
treaty, is ardently hoped for. The an
swer to Lord Granville contempiaies tho
representations made To Secretary Fish
bv SIR Edward Thornton, and Will con-
tain an unqualified refusal to withdraw the
case presented at Geneva. All other
chances at settlement having failed, the
President will make his recommendation
10 Congress and throw upon it the respon-
sbility ofeither accepting or iesenting the
reputation ofthe treaty by Great Britain.
Cor gress being the war-making power,
they can do as they please in uphoding
the national honor.
Thi. will be the third treaty with the
United States which Great Britain has
repudiated after ratification in the last
half century There is much interest
here to know how Congress will deal with
this last action Of Great Britain, when the
President lays the whole question before
them.