The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-05-30
The British Cabinet Cannot Understand
the Senate Amendments.
FISH'S LATEST ULTIMATUM.
Dispatches Between Schenck and
the Secretary.
A VISIT TO MINISTER THORNTON.
Fears for the Success Of the Supple
mental Article.


WASHINGTON, May 90, 1872.
The dispatches to the HERALD last night, indicat-
ing the probable failure OF the supplementary arti-
Gle to the Washington Treaty are confirmed by
everything that has happened to-day While the
President was at his room at the Capitol this morn
ing he showed the dispatches which have been re-
ceived by the State Department since the adoption
of the supplemental article to number OF leading
republican Senators. These dispatches are three
In number. The first Is telegram nom Schenck
to Fish, which was received ON Tuesday morning.
1t is to the effect that
THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT Is DISSATISFIED
with the changes the Senate made in the proposed
supplemental article; that neither the reason nor
the effect Of the change was understood by them,
and that they much preferred that the article
should stand as 1t was originally proposed by Lord
Granville. The hope Is expressed that the United
States will consent to adopt 1t az fair adjustment
Of the differences arising out Of the conflicting
structions placed upon the treaty especially as it
would be
IMPOSSIBLE TO ACCEPT THE SENATE SUBSTITUTE,
which is now conceded to be much broader in
strument, so far as our side OF the case is con-
cerned, than at first believed, without clearer
understanding OF its purport and formal llmita-
tation of its scope and meaning. In other words
the English government is not willing to accept it
at all, unless we agree to q supplement
to the supplementary article. To this
Mr.. Fish replied on Tuesday afternoon
that our government was unable to understand why
any difficulty should arise as to the meaning or effect
Of the amended article, or why it should be objec-
tionable either in form or spirit. Besides this he
gave the British government positive assurances
that the recommendation OF the Senate was con.
elusive, and that the President would not propose or
CONSENT TO THE SLIGHTEST CHANGE
The third despatch was received late last night.
II was from Schenck to Fish, and to the effect
that the British government WAS stilI unable to
derstand the intent and meaning of the article,
as 1t had been amended by the Senate, and In
sisted upon full explanation Of the changes which
had been made in the document. without this our
government was given to understand that its
acceptance would be impossible. So far, the
HERALDs dispatches Of last night are JUS
Is fully explained The only trouble is that
FISH MAY YET SURRENDER
and give over another excellent opportunity Of
saving the honor OF the country, in the face of the
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there were long conferences between the Secretary
and Sir Edward Thornton. Mr.. Fish forcibly i'm
pressed upon the British Minister the concessions
which we had already made to save the treaty, and
reiterated the rightuness Of the United States in
presenting their indirect claims to the tribunal at
Geneva. He assured Mr.. Thornton that the Senate
resolution was
THE ULTIMArUM OF THE UNITED STATES
and the present session of Congress the limit OF
time in which the fate of the treaty is to be decided.
little bit Of courage seemed to possess the Secre-
tary and he further informed the British Minister
that any further obstinacy Of the British govern
ment could only be regarded by us indifference
to the fate OF the treaty or desire to see it
the conference between Fish and Thornton, which
grew out of them, despatch was sent to General
Schcnck this afternoon to be communicated to Lord
Granville. In this despatch he reiterates the deca-
ration of the President, and his own avowal to Sir
Edward Thornton, that the British Government
must accept the proposition OF the Senate or none
at all, and do it at Any further procrastina
ton viii defeat the treaty and leave
THE RESPONSIBILITY OF IT'S FAILURE
entirely upon England. Parliament meets again
tomorrow, and 1t is not improbable the question
may be brought up once more In the House OF
Lords and the House Of Commons; but 1t is not
likely that the Senate Will soon be troubled with
the question, unless the British government re.
cedes from its present position and accedes to
proposition which, to say the least OF it, is suf-
1cicntly humiliatlng to America.
There has been considerable talk during the past
few days. provoked by the apparently ineypcabe
delay in the treaty business OF an extra session OF
the senate for executive business but nothing OF q
definite character can now be asserted regarding
such probability. 1t is certain that the President
Is anxious to avoid the expense and
TROUBLE OF AN EXTRA SESSION,
and that he will do every thing In his power to pre-
vent II. If matters take a favorable shape between
this time and next Monday the matter can be dis
posed OF in five minutes; but IT, as is now feared
further negotiations may result from the ex-
listing complications, an extra session will be-
come absolutely necessary. The President is
not now Of the opinion that such contingency win
arise. Having enlisted the Senate, In its advisory
capacity in the pending negotiations, he cannot
consistently decline or neglect to continue that
body in Its direct connection with the perplexing
business, The consequence Is that whatever turn