New-York tribune., 1872-09-16
THE GENEVA AWARD.


We publish this morning the text of the
award made by the Court of Arbitration ap-
pointed under the Treaty of Washington. So
much has been done by our own Government
to neutralize all the good results which mlgnt
have been attained by this experiment OF
international arbitration, that there will be a
general feeling of surprise and possibly even
of congratulation that anything has been given
in satisfaction of the claims of the United
States. The controversy has grown stale, and
every one will be glad to hear that it is at an
end. But it could scarcely have ended worse
We have lost every point we tried to make
By asking too much we have gained moth
ing. The thousand millions which would
have made our Case sublime if they
had not made it ridiculous, have dwindled to
fifteen and half. This petty sum will doubt
less be greatly diminished by the English
claims against the United States which are yet
to be allowed. OF course the mere matter OF
money is the least important feature OF so
grave and authoritative q decision, which
forms q sort of epoch in international
proceedings. But this triing sum is posi-
lively all we have gained. In every point
of view the great moral advantage is with En-
gland, and against us. In their anxiety to
convict England of negligence, our attorneys
have persistently urged the prOpriety and ne
cessity of the employment of arbitrary powers
by the Government, to prevent possible viola
tions of the neutrality laws AS we are to
pass the greater portion of our national life as
neutrals, and as we all expect our ship-build-
ing interests to revive some day, it is easy to
see how jealous belligerents could annoy our
legitimate industries by the weapons we have
thus put into their hands.
The Government Of Great Britain arc in con-
dition to repudiate this award entirely, not,
of course, as it binds their present action, but
as q precedent for the future, if it should
ever be quoted against them. At the same
time it is fully binding upon the United States,
as the Arbitrator appointed by our Government
has Joined with those of Italy, Brazil, and
Switzerland in making it. The English Govern
ment arc in position to say that they will re-
spect the decision of the Court to which the
settlement Of the present differences have
been referred but that they do not agree that
England is Justly liable for the damages which
in the interest of universal peace they con-
sent to pay. The very point upon which such
stress has been laid, of the Importance Of
inducing Great Britain to make q frank
avowal of responsibility, thus falls to
the ground. And with it goes the last pOssi-
bility of ever gaining any satisfaction for
those national damages, the omission of
which from the Seward Clarendon Treaty, ne
gotiated through Mr.. Reverdy Johnson, caused
the failure of that Convention. BY the decis-
ion of the Court, on the presentation OF the
Indirect Claims, the field of reclamation for
national damages was narrowed to the one
point Of asking compensation for expenses in
Cured in the pursuit of Anglo-Rebel cruisers.
And now, by the final award, even this class
of claims is excluded from consideration. BY
a vote of three to two the Court decided that
these costs are not properly distinguishabe
from the general expenses of the war, and
that there is, therefore, no ground for award
ing any sum by way Of indemnity under this
head.
The cheerfulness of the London papers over
the award is, therefore, easy to understand.
1t will be difficult for us to extract any salts
faction from the conclusion of the matter.
We are to have q few Millions it is true, at
the end of year, provided there Is anything
left of the sum awarded after it is decided
what English claims we are to pay. Other
wise we have nothing on our side of the
account. There was a great opportunity pre-
sented for an important and benefcent inn
provement in international procedure. But it
has been thrown away on our side by the
vacillation and incompetency of our Govern
ment. We may consider ourselves fortunate
if we do not lose by this Treaty in the long
run more than the amount of gold over which
Washington is now rejoicing and Mr. Clews is
rubbing his recently naturalized hands.