The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-01-16
ENGLAND.
The London Press ON the Washington Treaty
and the Geneva Conference.

The London Press ON the Washington Trenty
and the Geneva Conference.
The London Times of January 2, says that the
object Of this gigantic "case" Is TO make the
British government responsible, first, for the direct
losses inflicted on American commerce by the
Alabama, the SUMTER the Nashville, the Florida,
and others; and next, for the indirect losses
which the United States government assumes to
be due to the operations Of those vessels. These
last consist In the national expenditure In the pur
suit OF cruisers the loss in the transfer OF the
American commercial marine TO the British nag,
the enhanced payments Of insurance, and finally.
most portentous OF ALL the prolongation OF the
war and the addti on OF large sum to the cost of
the war and the suppression OF the rebellion 1T is
stated that in the opening conference OF the JOINT
High Commission the American Commissioners
formally stated these demands adding that, IN the
hone of an amcable settlement, no estimate had
been made OF the indirect losses-withOut preju-
dice, however, to the right OF indemnlhca-
ton on their account in the event OF no
such settlement being made. All these
large and, we may say, boundess questions may
be considered before the arDitrat0rs OF Geneva.
Now we can quite understand that many well in
formed persons believe these claims not TO De
seriously made that Is, they do not believe
that the American government has the Intention
of demanding from England indemnity
which might almost rival in amount tnat
which Prince Bismarck extorted from the French.
it Is permissible to suppose that the United
states are anxious for a public acknowledgment
that the views they took OF public duties during
the war, and the remonsranceS they made were
founded on reason. me Washington government,
as It's agents admit, has not made eslmate OF the
indirect losses. and possibly IL would be satisfied
with SUCH q moderate sum as would sufce TO place
record its success In Il ten years controversy.
But In the face OF formal Claim OF this KIND, we
cannot afford to let judgment 60 by default IN
substantial damages. II the United states govern
ment were TO obtain the Judgment OF tue arbrat0rs
IN favor OF the principe OF iull indemnify ior tne
dag and The proongation of the war, and
were then to bring forward claim Tor hundred
millions sterling. there would he no way 70 meet II
except Dy entering into complicated matters oil TACT
aud differences as, Tor instance. now much was lost
10 American snipowners by the sale or temporary
transfer OF their ships, and how rar the depreda.
tons OF the cruisers ana the bockade.running or
British adventurers did really lengthen the war;
The London Telegraph, ol the lsi, thus treats the
question:-The "case" Is full OF legal arguments,
winch we MAJ safely commend to the care OF SIR
Judgment OF the arbitrators. After quoting
ac Hsssa o and employees s y
at tie tribunal hold that these operations are
legitimate sucn decision VIII cause endless dis.
a neutral por; to prey On the commerce OF friendly
nations, then the United states VIII be relieved
iine Of coast ss THIS IS not true Inc Treaty.
VI washington ala HloTe tHdu lay uOWn rules 10
guide the Geneva arbitrat0rs; II LAID down rules
by which the United states aud the British govern
ments are TO lie bound In all future wars. They
must 'use due diligence 10 prevent the hitting out
Of hostile cruisers, and oeyonu that they are more
strictly hound not Ito permit or suffer"
their ports TO be made the basis
ments 'agsce to observe these rules as between
themselves IN future" so That here Is a positive
standard erected for future USE by which the con-
dnct Of England and the conduct OF the United
states can I've measured on any emergency.
Hitherto the standard has been q vague
principle, understood to be included IN That ques-
tlOnapie entity called International law; now 1t
fl part OF a treaty between two great Powers, and
has an operation far widier than the case Of the
Alabama and kindred ships. This arrangement was
the most valuable part OF the .rcnty az whole.