Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-05-14
GREAT BRITAIN.
The Alabama wixrIe.wap~.a

The Alabama WiggIe-waggIe.
LONDON, Monday, May 13.-The
Times and other London papers this morn
ing are of opinion that the announcement
OF Friday that negotiations between Greai
Britain and the United States in regard tc
indirect claims had been broken off was
premature. The Times says positively that
all will yet be righted. 1t maintains that
the American Government had agreed in
principle to withdraw the claims for indi.
rect damages and advises ferbearance on
the part ofboth Houses of Parliament.
NepOtic.
The STANDARD this morning in an article
on the approaching Presidential contest in
America is quite severe in denunciation of
President Grant accusing him of nepotism,
Jobbery and improper use of the military
in the administration of civil affairs.
Official.
LONDON, May BIN the House of
Commons this evening Gladstone made his
promised explanation of the negotiations
regarding indirect claims, and the position
taken by the Government. The House
was full and the galleries crowded. Glad
stone, on rising, was greeted with cheers.
He commenced his narrative with the 18th
OF January, whenit first became known to
him that the claims for indirect damages
han been presented in Geneva In the Amer
lean case. Her Maiesty's Government pro-
tested on the Sd of February that indirect
claims were not within the scope of the
treaty or Washington, nor within the in
tentlon OF either party to the treaty. Sec
rotary Fish replied in April. He thought
the Geneva Board ought to decide the
whole question. The tone of Mr., Fish's
dispatch was most courteous. In the mean
Time communication was received from
Schenck, the American Minister, suggest
Ing another course which would be accept
able to England and America. This was
an interchange of notes setting forth the
views of the terms and conditions wherein
both agree to proceed TO arbitration. We
accepted thss suggestion, continued Glad
stcIa, and carried on the correspondence
altogether by telegraph. On Wednesday,
the 8th inst, President Grant submitted
proposition to the United States Senate.
On Thursday we ascertained that she prop
Osition was not precisslS as we understood
it should be because ofthe brevity of the cable
dispatches on which it was based. On Fri
day a draft covering letter Of
our views was forwarded to Minister
Schenck, and although lengthy, was
Immediately telegraphed By him to Washing
ton. Yesterday NJ. Schenck informed Lord
Granville that the President had accepted
and the Senate entertained the draft.
Gladstone thought this fact almost equiva-
lent to a ratification. He begged the fur
Their indulgence of the House, now that the
question was approaching a satisfactory
issue, honorable alike to both nations. If
successful in this negotiation, her Majesty's
government had right te exact praise for
settling mOmentous question. The last
proposal on the part of Great Britain sus-
tanned the position taken by the govern
ment in the Queens speech at the begin
ming of the present session. Gladstone,
in conclusion, said he thought he was not
too sanguine in predicting that the nego-
tiations would result in settlement which
would rebound to the credit of both parties.
As Mr.. Gladstone took his seat there was
loud and repeated cheering from all parts of
the house.
Mr.. Disraeli followed with thanks to the
premier for his statement. He should not
seek to embarrass the government, What
ever differences existed on other subjects,
all parties we're united in the desire for a
peaceful and honorable settlement.
In the House of Lords Granville made a
statement similar to that of Gladstone.
Earl Russell again postponed his melton Ior
an address to the Crown to withdraw from
the arbitration, He charged til t the ques-
ton wac no longer one between the honor
or of the Crown and the reelection of
President Grant. Earl Derby and Duke
Richmond expressed hope that the new
proposition of the English Government
was unambigg ous. They had heard enough
of misunderstanding.