The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1872-02-08
LATEST NEWS.
THE TRF ATTY.

Position Of The United States on the Geneva
Arbitraticn-Ehe Treaty ia tie British Par
lament.
Washington, Feb. 7.-The position taken
by gentlemen closely connected with the
administration Of the government, is that
the British high commissions perfectly I'M
derstood the views of the American high
commissioners in the negotiations of the
treaty Of Washington, both from its terms
and the associations in protocol, and that
therefore our government is altogether JUS
titled in presenting the case as it has,
claiming consequential damages. In case
the board of arbitrators shall not award
gross sum in satisfaction of the so-called
Alabama claims, our government is willing
to stand by their decision. 1t is known
that, though the British commissioners had
fall power, they frequently consulted their
home government and acted in accordance
with its wishes in all they did.
1t is officially asserted that if the claim
for consequential damages had not been
presented, and was not to be passed upon,
there might be complaint by the people of
the United States that provision was made
for partial settlement only of the differ
ences between the two governments. Such
claim was therefore presented for full
settlement, in the interests of peace and to
preclude future disputes.
This government has not yet received the
text of the letter from Lord Granville to
Gen. Schenck, and, therefore, cannot take
official action upon it. There is no proba-
bility whatever that our government will
withdraw any part of its statement of the
case, but will leave the British government
to pursue its own course, and the arbtra-
tors to act in the premises according to the
treaty stipulations nor is it likely that our
counsel will take any action in order to ac-
commodate the British government.
London, Feb. THE Lord Chancellor
read the Queens speech in Parliament yes
terday.
Earl Granville, replying to denunci-
atory speech of Disraeli regarding the
Washington treaty, concluded: 81 could,
if desired, refer to the preposterous char
acter of the American demands, which
Of itself proves their absurdity for they
were such as no people in the last extremity
Of war, or in the lowest depths of national
misfortune, with the spirit of England in
their hearts, would submit to-" tCheers. i
Mr.. Gladstone concluded his speech by
saying that the government would maintain
the position it had taken firmly, though in
friendly manner. I.
The subject of the Washington treaty
was again considered in Commons to-day.
An excited discussion ensued. Ralph Ash.
borne said the Alabama claims question
was one Of the most momentous that Eng.
land had been called to pass upon within a
century. lie compared the astute lawyers
who composed the American commission
with the novices who represented England,
and said the latter had been completely
ontwitted. ''If,' said he, ''lawyers had
planned the English case, we could escape
with the payment of six millions sterling.
The American commissioners had served
then. country well, and achieved tri.
umph.'
Mr.. Osborne said the trouble lay al
home. The government had armies which
could not march and ships which were un
scaworthy, and now they had treaty
which they could not stand upon.
Mr.. Otway, formerly under-Secretary
of State for foreign affairs, blamed the
government for all the trouble. lie
thought, however, that the American GOV.
eminent would rectde from its extreme
demands but in case it did not, England
having admitted the principles of indirect
claims, must be prepared to meet the enor.
nous demands of the United States.
Mr.. Gladstone and others defended the
british commissioners, and said they hoped
the claim for indirect damages would be
Withdrawn