The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-06-08

Tuesday, there appeared to be no approach
O settlement on the question at issue. Whe
Earl Russell made his bitter speech denouncin
the United States and making offensive refer
ence to the Trent affair less hope began to b
entertained of an amicable arrangement Blu
Immediately after that Mr. Schenck presented
the letter of assurance to Lord Granville Il
which we have referred. Did Mr.. Fish begir
to feel weak in the knees? Was the admins
tration frightened at the language of the
House of Lords and the firm attitude of Eng.
land? There is certainly something remark.
able in the rapid changes which have taken
place within the last few days, whatever may
have caused them. Perhaps the buster OF
England and the pretended frmness of the
government at Washington were, after all,
only for buncombe-a sort of byplay for poll
teal effect England has not appeared to be
frightened, and we can hardly suppose Gen.
eral Grant and his Cabinet were. We must
conclude, therefore, that concessions have
been made and the treaty saved from pure
friendship and the kindest feeling notwith-
standing the difficulties and apparent unpleas-
antness that existed
The late obstacle with the British govern
ment in coming to an understanding appeared
to be as to what our government meant pre-
cisely by direct and indirect claims Or
rather it wanted to know exactly what would
be the limit of direct claims and what would
be withdrawn under the term indirect claims
The language of the Senate amendatory sup
Elemental article to the treaty did not appear
explicit enough, though our government had
virtually surrendered the indirect claims. Here
was the hitch. The British government seemed
afraid of being overreached by. some Yankee
dodge. To people of ordinary common sense
there would be no difficulty of understanding
the difference between direct and consequential
damages, particularly after such full dis
cussion as there has been over these so-called
Alabama claims; but diplomats are SO accus-
toned to ambiguity that they cannot see as
clearly as other mortals. However, Mr.
Schenck's assurance, or Mr.. Fish's assurance,
given through Mr.. Schenck, that the claim for
all consequential damages is withdrawn, must
be very full and explicit, for it literally trans
formed, as by magic, the House of Lords. We
may conclude the trouble is over and the treaty
saved The condition on which our govern
ment has surrendered the claim for consequent
tial damages is the acceptance by England Of
the amended rule with regard to the obligations
and liability Of neutrals The want of due dill
igence in not preventing a violation Of neutral
and friendly obligations when England is at
war will only subject the United States to q
claim for direct damages, just as such claim
against England for the depredations Of the
Alabama and her fellow cruisers are now linn
tied. The case has been wonderfully narrowed
down, considering tho injuries we sustained by
England's unfriendliness during the war and
the claims we made and persisted in making
against that country; but MS the Queen has ex-
pressed her regret, and as peace and good feel
ing between the two countries are so desirable,
it is best, perhaps, to close the dispute. It
would have been still better if our government
had made England q present of tho paltry
twenty millions or SO claimed for direct dam
ages, but which may never be accorded by the
Geneva arbitrntors, than to have gone to all
this trouble and annoyance about them. As
the matter is now settled, or on the eve of set
Element and as the country is utterly disguised,
we hope there will be On end Of diplomatic
palaver or whitewashing nonsense from the
State Department Let us try to forget the
past and carry the treaty out in good faith.