Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1872-06-17
TELEGRAPH NEWS.
The Geneva BOARD OF Arbitration.

The Geneva Board Of Arbitration.
GENEVA, June 16.-The proposition for an
adjournment is the subject now before the trl-
bunal and will occupy the arbitrator Monday
and perhaps longer. As the purpose OF the
session Monday is to hear argument on this
point, the arguments on both sides may be ex-
tended, for nothing in the Alabama negotia-
tons has yet been distinguished for brevity.
Many delicate issues will also be raised, for tie
Judges who will not determine hastily topics
that in their nature require deliberate consider
alton.
Possibly this single subject may occupy sew
eral days. Rely upon the unqualified accuracy
of my former telegram that the English argu-
ment was not presented Saturday. The pro-
ceedings, however, possibly pregnant with
great results, were neagre in point of detail.
The Judges sat at seml-clrcular desk,
Count Sclopis in the middle, at his left Baron
Itajuba and Sir Alexander Cockburn at his
right. M. Stempfi and Mr.. Adams, counsel ,oc-
cupied square table in front, Lord Tenterdenn
on one side with his counsel behind him, and
MIR. Davis on the opposite side with his coun'
sci behind him.
The American argument was presented in an
octave volume OF six or seven hundred pages
with a smaller supplementary volume printed
only 10 the English language, and the Amerl-
can Agent declared himself ready to proceed.
The English agent failed 10 comply with the
stipulated formality Of presenting the papers
and simply asked for an adjournment 10 order
that the governments might have further OPP
portunity to endcavor to reconcile their differ
ences on the one main point at issue. He did
not ask for an adjournment for any fixed Pc
Rod of definite number OF months. The
Americans answer that on request of an adjourn
ment without the presentation OF the final pa
pers, which is not according to the procedure
laid down in the treaty, they fud themselves in
the presence of an eventuality not contemplat-
ed by their Instructions and hope the tribunal
will not decide without giving them an oppor-
tuuity to refer the subject by telegraph to the
United States government. lnasmuch as the
whole legal ground upon which the tribunal
stands is a comparatively UNEMPLOYED region,
the exact character and power OF the arbltra.
tors not being we'll defined, and the scope and
limit Of their power being undetermined, it
was Judged wise to accept this proposition, and
Monday was fixed as the day upon which the
court would hear and the counsel present in
the light of the latest advices from the two
governments their arguments upon the point
presented by the English agent. 1t thus be-
comes apparent that neither government has
tnOugnL 1t SAFE u tIuSL CdSc ullUSClllCl W
| it's agents here, but each keeps up such
constant communication by telegraph that IN
fact the real agent for England is Earl
Granville, and for America Secretary Fish.
1t is not strange that the governments thus
keep their agents in tutelage when we contem
plate the monstrous absurdity that neither case
is in the hands of the great lawyers that are here
on both sides, but in the hands Of official un
derngs, the third rate men OF departmental
routine As the English have uncompromis-
ingly adhered to the determination not to pre-
sent the papers it is but natural to suppose
that the Americans will also adhere to this
view that the English are not properly in court
aud that they ask the court to wander from its
jurisdiction on Il point for which the treaty
makes no provision. IF the English insist that
they are properly in court importance will fol-
low. for if they are In court they are bound to
recognize the validity of the judgments no mat
ter on what point. Possibly, therefore, they
would suddenly Gud themselves involved
| in position from which they cannot escape
without fragrant disregard to diplomatic
propriety and respect due to the tribunal
depend entirely on the latest dispatch
es from Earl Granville to the English agent.
The Americans are fully instructed in every
step, but the English are drifting, and it is
impossible to say with what result, awaiting
themselves of every chance to ascertain the
temper of the Court, and how far the Ameri-
cans will 90 in conceding the length of time
for an adjournment
LONDON, June 1.-THE official correspon-
dence between the British and American Gov
ernments, with reference to the arbitration Of the
Alabama claims, is published this morning. 1t
consists of seventy-three dispatches.
GENEVA, June 17.-Count Sclopis, Presi-
dent of the Tribunal of arbitration, did not
propose an adjournment of the tribunal on Sat
urday, as it was reported he would do. The
summary of the British argument was accom-
panied by protest, reserving the right of
England to withdraw from the arbitration if
the negotiations with the American Govern
ment in relation to indirect claims fail to re-
suit satisfactorily to the Government of the
former country The proceedings before the
tribunal of arbitration are carried on partly in
English and partly 10 French: Hopeful expec-
tatons of the result of the arbitration are raised