The New York herald., 1872-05-20
EEG1AND.
The Alabama "So-Called Indirect Claims'-Ine
American Position and the Washington
Treaty-English Intolerance and British
Bluster - The Herald Livingstone
Expedition-The Literary Fund
Anniversary Dinner.
LONDON, May Q, 1872.

since the eo-called "indircct caims' are likely to
defeat the whole Alabama negotiation, the history
of their appearance In the treaty and the American
case Is likely become curious point OF inquiry.
We're the English members OF the Joint High Conn.,
mission aware from the beginning OF the purpose Of
our government in regard to the indire ct claims
Did they knowingly assent to the admission into
the treaty of words that would cover these claims
hut that might be passed over not presenting
the claims with especial point or prominence, ane
no not attracting general attention. II ever 0 ,e
history OF the treaty is fully and plainly writtf m.
with the history OF the subsequent st sps
in the arbitration, 1t will, perhaps, az pear
that, so far from the indirect claims coming nm Mt
the last moment, as mine sprung by iankee
sharpers under the feet of innocent and W snspecf
ing Britons, they were presented and discussed
nom the first moment; and 1t will p' obablv be
shown that the very ambiguity Of they ,hraseology
covering the claims in the treaty Was concession
10 the necessities ofthe English COVER lment which
perhaps deemed 1t advisable to yie' d more than it
cared to let the British public kno w. History win
doubtless blame the American g commissioners for
consenng to make their expire ssions so indistinct
Rs to lead at last to the loss Of the very point at
the whole nof Had no 70 neen se
for the very vehement assg rtion in the American
case Of that which the treat had touched SO very
on the spirit Of the orisna negotiations and that
England and AAeyica would have accepted, with
mep, q decar9,tion OF the complete nuity Of the
claims that are yowso bitterly declared inadnissi-
sf the case spoiled all. It should teach anew th1
depth and fzce Of the saying Of Cardinal de Rev.,
mat IN , the ss ,s tes ass not
Yes 0yandes. .atdtres.
But tn most notable point in the history win be
the cont tTgst presented between the real position
seems 10 hold In the view taken by Rngllsh writer's
Airrt tho md ronf r1n nitOd M rct
solte phrases, the United states government has
cai nas upon words that would only hold them by
hal f-drawn Interpretation; and at one moment ap-
E cept me Interpretation OF its motives presented
9TH all the characteristicaly dishonest impudence
ihe negotiation appears to fall not from the United
States refusing to relinqush these claims, but from
though it agrees to instruct the tribunal that il
claims nothing by their This is push
ve "s anything at
can be considered equivalent to the humiliation OF
that It does but those eager persons who have
very large financial irons in the fire or the
rally the latter look upon indirect claims %
With no favor, and the former see in the disturb
weigh oil other conceivable evils but as W this S'i is
case In which, as Is felt and declared, 1t is the
and commercial reasons must be deemed inadmis-
THE LIVINGSTONE SEARCH.
From what appears in the daily papers 1t would
seem to be the earnest desire Of oil persons
here interested In geographical science that
Che recent good news from Zanzibar may prove
not true. British geographers would rather
that Livingstone should not be rescued than
that he should be rescued by an American.
Journalists themselves have spoken honestly
and fairly Of Stanley and the HERALD expedition,
but the veritable geographical sentiment is ex-
pended In the wonderful speeches delivered at the
meetings OF the society and in the communications
60 which now and then the journals give place
written sometimes by mere members OF the so
ciety and sometimes by men OF capacity Richard
Burton, whose achievements recognized, but
who on the strength Of that recognition, rather
errogantly assumes monopoly OF oil know
Ledge regarding the East, and writes t.
The papers in the tone OF that assump
safety may be "bunkum.' Lesser people have
enecred In the same way at the possibility OF Stan.
lcy's success; and finally person named Charles
Beke suggests that the report OF Livtngstones
safety has originated in "a desire on the part OF
OF the tardy expedition organized by the Royal
Geographical Society Mr.. Beke deems that it
would be invtdlOus to name this ''sOme Ohc,r and
30 withholds particulars; but he Is evidently "
opinion that Americans interested In the solution OF
great scientific problems may base their actions on
fund Of natural meanness as ample as his own.
THE ROYAL LITERARY FUND DINNER.
Last night was celebrated the usual dinner, the
eighty-third anniversary OF the Royal Literary
Fund 1t was more royal than literary. The King
Of Belgium presided, and His Majesty and the
one another nearly all the evening, while Mr. Dis
raci and Earl Stanhope, the only literary speakers.
talked OF nothing but Belgium and His Majesty. The
n6ual sparkle OF the occasion was drowned In the
eense OF the condescension Of the monarch, who,
Mr. Disrae said with one solitary joke, had come
N mr. 40 IN 40 anvhi IL ttaro