The New York herald., 1872-02-16

Yne American demands, remarks the Standard,
seem to show thai we have wholly missed our aim
IN the negotiation. We were nor afraid OF war. We
were anxious to satisfy the reasonable suscepli-
bilty OF the Americans and to put an emu TO that
bitterness OF feeling which has for nearly century
alienated rom each other the two great Anglo
saxon empires Tne result has shown that we can
not remove that bitterness offeeling. We have done
all We could; we Consented 10 express regret for
the escape OF the Alabama and her consorls under
whatever circumstances" and we agreed 10 pay
sucn damages Tor their exploits as misnt ne
We consented TO be tried by the law Ms 1t ought
to have been, aud not as II was. We do SO on tue
no vague, indirect, unlimited claims ior con-
structve injury. We did so on the under
not sheer pecunilry extortlon or vindictve
damages, was the aim 0l the Americans. we nnu
ourselves at once confronted Dy demand for sum
when at the lowest estimate exceeds iourlold what
1t would have Cost US &C the highest estimate 70
all Northern claims by a declaration OF war. We md
ourselves called upon TO pay ior tue last Two years
OF the war, ior to this, IN saoIt the American de.
at pecunlary extortion-a demand 1Or vindictlve
damages on the most gigantic scale; and we nave
only loo goou reason 10 lear that any possible con-
clusion TO the matter Will leave the relations De-
tween the TWO countries less satisfactory than ever
What Is perfectly OBVIOUS Is tnat we cannot evel 10
into court upon the American case-cannOt even
aomt that the tribunal mas the right TO render us
responsible for any lnIng more than the actual and
immediate miscnIer done by Inc Alabama anu her
consortS, or can entertain the qucsLlOn OF damages
ior tne proiongatlon OIL the war and its ensct ID
transferring American shipping 10 the British nag.
The DGuy Ne,os considers .the American claims
against England as they are now formulated, q
very serious tnlng for our government but they are
still more serious for the country; aud II Is high
time tnat We should know accurately how we stand
with regard 10 them. 1t IL quite certain that our
Ministers and Commissioners mad no notion what,
ever tnat such astounding and obviously inadmis-
sible demands could arise from the bases laid down
In the treaty OF Washington; and the question re-
naming Is whether the government have been
trcked and duped py reason Of their own disastrous
ana cuipabe ue .llgence or whether the American
o M oo ne ~ v
previous NEGOTIATIONS. As mere prelude
tSat TINS eaa may pSns pSsnsr out
this country Tor the lrlDunal Of Arbitration
was drawn up III absolute ignorance OF wnat the
American case would DC. rne treaty Itself Is re.
spunslule lOr q phrase which mas been apparen ny
accepted by our government with much candor ana
trust, while 1t mas Afforded 10 The UnIted States
dangerous argu ne0t IN favor Vi the prep0sterous
demands they now set forth. Tne claims referred
mlttSu by the aloresaid vesses.' According to Inc
Auercan tneory these ac.s nave grown ilke the
braacaes stretch over wnoIe seas ana contnenS Is.
The only wonder Is that having grown SO lar,
they did not grow farther: Tor mere Is no sort
or possible reason to account Tor Inc limit
which the American statesmen have thought
iii 10 impose. when once We get away from tne
Z
there Is no inteiligUle point al which demands
must necessarily stop; and 10 name sucn sum as
heap OF figures. Certainly Is great pity tnat all
tins was not guarded against. Prompt action must
be taKen III this matter we cannot consent 10 sao-
iuse TO be bound by the Judgment Should tlat oe
given against US, wnle 1t Is absolutely certain tnat
this country Will not accede To The Wild demands
put forward by the American Slde. Our duty In Inc
matter Is plain. Ii our nlnlsers entirely nsunder.
stoou the altitude oil the United States tney must
say SO now, before they nave involved themselves
any lur.her In their negotiations and the American
government must De informed that q treaty when
paves the way Tor sucn misunderstanding 10y the
looseness OF Its language demands instant and NIL
mute revision. Tne American construction u Its
terms Is out vi the question In law and IN common
sense, and the claims based>On tnat constr ucton
cannot be admitted as within the terms OF reIer:
ence."
The Pau Nal Gazette of the 3lst ulr concludes q
long article on "Our Obligations Under the treaty
Of washington" -
Certainly the notion that England
can with pr0priety submit the admisslbiy Of
claims lUss ~ the tribunal and arbltra-
riiy retire those claims II the verdict he given
against her. not 10 Oe thought Oh Ii the right to
Withdraw under such circumstances were claimed
aud acknowledged beforehand, 1t would make all
parties actors IN farce; II concealed aud then
| mains, then-Or SO u seems to us-but the course
we have already Indicated Either the claims 10
| question are altogether, aud without doubt IN the
minds or our government beyond the limit Of
the understanding, or they are not. Ii
they are not, there Is nothing IN the terms Of tne
to 90 10 arUitraron, ieavng 1t for the tribunal 10
decide how lar the United states have suffered loss
In distinct though Indirect way through failure or
any OF Tee dutles acknowledged In the treaty as
| incumbent on US. All we can do In that case Is to
In every partlcnlar and " contest every extrava-
! CANT or strained demand as II comes up. the bill
the responsibility forced on US by the negligence
| aud mcOnpetency Of our government and pay the
bill put H. o s osf hand es ca%s ae
OF the agreement, tncn the surest, most straight
! forward, most dignlned course is to re use
point blank TO admit them as admissible matter
course, is only too obvious We see at glance now
much reason we shall nave to rejoice IN the results
OF negotiation wnlcI, above all Things, was to SET
tie forever dangerous quarrel, bring the TWO ma
the world how wars may be avoided. Even now, all
that is settled But we must be content to make the
best oil matter whicn, however 1t oe regarded and
Is no happy way out OF t-inanks 10 the negligence
| OF our own government But there is a better way
| and worse, and though the better way Is one
which 80 lar from pactying the Americans Will in
crease their anger and add to the numoer OF their
| necessary.
| With reference to the American claims, the Man.
| chester Guardian thinks We have q moral right
summary to repudiae the claims for indirect losses
brought against US by the United states, but the
whether the claims ior indirect losses now advanced
by the United states 40 or do not fal within the
terms OF the Washington Treaty, we bind ourselves
| TO abide bY their decision.
| The American claims are discussed by the Dundee
| Advertiser. Notwithstanding the formidable cha
Iacter Of the claims, however, the essential point
which the arDlrators are called upon to decide is
did Great Britain Loyalty perform the duties which
devolved upon her as neutral during the struggle
| between the Northern and southern StaesP AS the
decision rests with arbtrators VINO are as much In
terested as Great Britain or America in having the
! duties OF neutrals laid down something Ike q
| substantai and satisfactory basis the Dundee Ad-
| rertiSer thinks we need not be frightened.
|
THE TREATY OF WASHINGTON
|