The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-02-22
CHARLES FRANCIS ADAMS.
His Views ON the DilI1cu1fy
with England.
WHERE GLADSTONE Is WRONG
The Present Ministry Gone Too
Far to Recede.,
PROBABLE FAILURE OF THE TREATY..

Charles Francis Adams. the distinguished Amert.
statesman who Ia represent the United States
at the Geneva Court OF Arbitration arrived yester-
day from England, by the steamer Algeria. Al |
though he has come back on private business, MS
return at the present moment when grave difncu |
ties exist between the United States and Great /
Britain on the object OF his mission, becomes a Y
matter OF serious significance It now ques-
tonable whether the Court OF Arbitration will meet I
at all. II,
Hearing OF the arrival OF Mr.. Adams at the II
Brevoort House. HERALD reporter ca,led On him |,
yesterday afternoon and found no difficuty In OBJ
tanning an interview. Mr. Adams, whose name Is 4
famlliarly associated with the Alabama claims. !
which he SO iudclously urged when Minister at
the Court Of st. James, IL mild. benevolent
looking old gentleman. During his long dip6s
matic career he has contracted she habit y I
slow, deliberate speech and guarded n )
serve. Yet knowing that there Is little TO
conceal where both sides have so freely exareg red
their sentiments, he did not hesitate 20 giN5 his
opinion on the merits Of the controversy.
After some Introductory remarks the-con Serta ton
was directed to the all-important sublestes the
Treaty Of Washington, and ran as lollows;--
REPoRTER-I presume. Sir, that you have u ought
some interesting information regarding they present
differences between this counwy aiNT Great
BritainP
MI. ADAMS nave little lnI0rm6k10n bG0N nd what
Is known to everybody. In my. Onictal capacity
while IN England kept entirely sloof frnv the con-
troversy In fact Geographic communiGsS ION to the
newspapers has been rapid aud anlra F., that on
my arrival in New York learned one ogr wo things
which did not know before.
REPoRrER-To what do you allude, .sIsd
Mr.. ADAMs-I refer TO- The oahlest.s snatch con
tanning the announcement OF Mr. GladS tone IN par
haiheht as 10 the date when copy OF ne American
''case" was received by tho BriSsn gov eminent
REPoRTER-Are you hopeful, SIR. III At the contro
versy about the American claim for consenuen t,a
damages will be amcably settled, OF do Won think
that the Treaty OF ashngtors WILD a failure and
that the Court OF Arbitration wtll ~ - meet at aP
Mr.. ADAMs-S0 far nothing has q ccurred which
warrants my saying that the treaty. will be failure
left London when the greatest excttement pre.
vailed. IL was the evening wie n Mr. Gladstone
made his hasty. inc0nsderate spc ecn which read
just before my departure Butsin ce then Mr. Glad
stone has modified his language In his two fol-
lowing speeches he took back Nun oh or what ne Ind
said ut first
REPoRrER-Is there any liksN hood that the Brit
ish government will CONSENT 10 nav the consenuen
tial damages In lump sum ss,de Of arbitrat,onp
Mr. ADAMs--The real questlo n "a not abont having
damages, but abont admlttinj the claim Of conse.
quentia damages within th0 proyince OF the Court
Of Arbitration. Mr. GladstO M holds that such n
claim Is not recognized by, "a treaty and has also
oeoi"'eu nhiiseh axu'ns'' ne payment OF
quentlal damages In alur1I sum-
INSTRUMENTATION, u|hSI English government will
hot aonA1 sucn claluS' arbitration settle
sneui Ill any JULIET "aS'u hat good Is there likely
come Oh. the treaty. s'IS0 our government cannot
recede from its presenns altitude
MI ADAMs| nsYe;W d no Official Information of
'he hnleudohs VI oUr government. 1t Is doubtless
possle'e 'nat 'iusi1A prove stumbling block to
tue eAeculon~ the treaty. But Mr..
uiaos'ohes asctiG IliOn may not be final.
he HAS nSeSA known to modify his
speecues ahd nH'p ini0ns In the heat OF debate he
-ano~s nhlseA'o,' e carried away and to overshOot
MS WarA' AieeN" iently did not mean all he said at
first
hEPoRrER-TN N he was, as Dsraei once said on
one Oh MS Ph'm images OF passOnpn
MT. ApAS' miinR)-The tone OF Mr. Disraers
speech WIS lore temperate. He did not CON-
Hi' Unusual Y such extreme statements. The
EAT Oh uerHS and the DuKe OF Richmond, who may
DC consloerao leaders OF the tory party, mod.
craze comhN ed to Mr.. Gladstone.
hEi oh'hA Was public opinion In England very
strong ON lie subject when you left sirP
MI A"A fs-The newspapers, which reflect public
oplh'on.V ere almost unanimous In opposing the
Ame'ic~ claim OF consequential damages.
hERo~ rER-Might not the recognition of this
ciaim.W set the Gladstone Ministry
MI ADAMs-Yes, that is quite probable. Mr..
Gladsh me ia not 30 strong "a he was three veor.
ago.
REF oprrR-perhans n Tory Ministry uouid ha
mor0 disposed to make q satisfactory settlements
M ADAMs-I think so; IOr the Tories have not
CON united themselves so far as the liberals. They
VIC uld have more liberty OF action They have
ne been friendly enough to the American people
expose themselves to the reproach OF Partially
favor OF the United States.
REPoRTER-When do you expect sir. to return
70 Europea
Mr.. ADAMs-I have decided nothing as to that. 1
| have come back on private business altogether
| on account OF my wife's Ill health-and II 90 10
Europe again shall take her with me; that Is, If
| her state OF health Will allow 1t.
KEPORrER-If not, suppose you Will not return
at all9
Mr.. ADAMs-WelI, decide nothing until the
moment for decision arrives. Ihave been negotiating
| for house I'm Geneva, and 80 far have made NO
change In my original arrangements.
REPoRTER-Is the present difficulty with England
likely to reach stage where war ID unavoidable.
Mr.. ADAMs-I do not think 30, although the
failure OF the Treaty OF Washington may prove a
serious danger TO England and standing cause OF
| irritation between the two countries.
FRENCH READINGS.
An interesting series OF readings from the best
| French authors has been begun a. Chckering Hail.
| In Fourteenth street, BY Mons. A. A. Favarger In
| whi am M ia