The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-03-30

ening as Il will do to accept the new proposal Of
Inc American secretary 1s a'ae our nn
terms OF the grave communication II made 10 the
United States government al the beginning oil
January.
SO little, indeed, does the American proposal
really advance the ooecls OF the negotiaion Thar
we must look Oevond its Language for the reasons
which have determined its presentation, and we
shall probably not do injustice to It's authors II we
assume tnat they have adopted this form and reply
to Lord Granville, not so much IN the expecta.
ton that their suggestion can he accepted as In The
nope lhat It's discussion may ofief 10 our govern
ment one more opportunity Of reconsidering the
entfro SITUATION with a view 10 the discovery or
be ex,rIcated from their present embarrassments.
The further the public discussion OF the indirect
Claims proceeds Ia the United States the more GEAR
is 1t made that the American pe0pie never Thought
OF getting iarthlng allowed Tor Them at Geneva.
Tue contrary impression, which was produced IN
this country when the allegations anu arguments
OF the case first became known, was natural and
JustiilaOe, but II appears to have been unlounued.
1t is not pow worth while to go back upon the rea-
sons when induced tine American governmenr to
insert IN solemn document demands which IL ala
Nc. believe to be tenabe we have simply to do WIN
the TACT. Friendly Americans, both here and In the
United States assure us OF the moderation OF their
ieiiow citAens, aud urge 1t as reason why we
should lay ASIDE all hesitation, and go boldly before
the aroitraofs 10 meet their case IN oil ts length and
breadth. But we believe mat II there Is one point
upOa Wnich the n1lni OI tins country IS Gear and
unanimous, IT Is that our government IS bound TO
allow notninl TO induce 10 TO suOlllt To arbitration
any claim As 10 wilca 1t Is not prepareu TO accept
from tue aroitrators an ADVERSE decision. THIS
course Is Required ny honor, and lrom1t we feel con-
hdent no Briusa government Will be ioand 10
swerve.
such being OF necessity the character OF the reply
TO be mace by our government on the proposal OF
Mr.. Fisn, me next question Is whether anything
further can be done to bring the two governments
to an agreement SO that tne Arbitration may pro.
cecil. AM here, on the very threshold dlfncuity
OF the mrs. magnitude preseats Itself. Tne dis.
pute That has arisen turns upon the construc.
ton OF q treaty which has been sanctioned IN
iIs present form by the senate OF the United States
body whose special ATTRIBUTES and functions with
q II
OF the Union mad prepared case for the Geneva
tribunal leaving out the 'rndlrect claims" rhe
Senate might sooner or later have declared that all
the demands OF the United States upon England had
not been submitted 10 arDitrauon 1t ID all but GER
direct claims now the validity Of his act would be
questioned In the Senate aud the whole results Of
we believe, q correct view OF the situation, 1t
follows That, the governments OF the two countries
as % ve sae os to
follow would be O reconstruction OF That engage
ment by those political powers from whose concur
renee it first derived the validity ascribed TO it.
Tne negotiations OF last year. which were supposed
to have resulted IN satisfactory agreement, must
be reODened and prosecuted anew In the light OF
the experience mat has peen gained. Inc task Is
not an inviting one, 1t must DC confessed, aud we
can imagine many OF our people, aioet deslrous OF
a settlement OF this pr0tracted and wearisome dis.
pute, very little inclined 10 favor the resunplcn or
ties or a kind such as We encounter only at Wash.
1ngton. II the truth were told we believe IL would
be ioand that very large number o. English.
men,, W no means msensiDe OF the vaiue
81 rs. as sHa'P Gne aa se Would prec
dlsnity, that ministers should allow the Amerlc an
government 10 prosecute lis clals Ia its own time
part III tralsactions winch the domestic necessities
OF the American government or tas inscrufaDle tac
tics Of american politicians mas al any momens
Tue BRUSH government Will doubtless feel 1t right
to eXal.lne the present stat; OF affairs Win a view
to discover the means ny when the settlement
lately disturbed may DC restored and me revision
OF tue treaty appears 70 oe tne most promisinT
been urged as an Objection W this arrangement
That our own public would not he disposed to
entrust the conduct Or renewed negotiations To
the Commissioners VINO brought home 80 imperfect
treaty last year. But there need be no dirhculty
on that score 1t Is not requisite that the negota-
tons for u revislol Oh the treaty should be con.
Quoted by j Commission Identical III It's compost
tlon Win that which operated In the negotlatOn
OF tina. instrument. Weaker members might be
removed and replaced by Others OF more weight
despenslDle condition OIL success. In discussing
this suggestion we assume, as Ia DUTY bound, that
the American government earnestly desires hnal
and amiCaDle settlement OF all points Ia dispute
between the two countries. Such desire, 1t is I'M
derstood is expressed In the despatch OF Mr.. Fish,
now expected, ana we may be sure that 1t Will be
met III 4 corresponding spirit 10y our own govern.
ment These courteous assurances undoubtedly
OF that disposition from wnicn ,Iole We can expect
any fruitful Issue Of negotiations winch nave already
favoraoie TO hope il Would nave been more salts.
factory had the American government gwen some
ntlmatOn, however Sugnt, Oh The uireCuOn III WHICH
II beueved solution Of the present dlnl:ulty might
be sought. Our position Is wen defined we are as
ready REFER the direct claims tor losses by
the Alabama to the Geneva Tribunal; and II the
American government Is unable TO Withdraw the In.
direct claims, as we suspect 1t IS, the re0penlng OF
negotiations to which the senate may give Its sane
ton, appears TO be the only means by which Set.
tonient can be arrived at. We cannot affirm tina
such plan presents very good prospect OF sue
coss the moment II Is the De5t that offers IL
SELF
The Times Is completely silent on the question.