New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-05-15
cling gained, nobody cares to hold out on question

nor does ANYBODY, 30 Tar AZ KNOW hH"" any
undue exultation over our surrender. have not
heard from any Englishman nor read in any English
journal since the fact became known, a single word
that the most sensitive American could consider
offensive. Only last Saturday, The Times was pro-
nouncing for the twentieth time funeral Grafton
on the Treaty To-day il finds it still alive and halls
tie new settlement as happy result attained more
over Z" in the very manner which had been pointed
out long ago as most satisfactory and honorable to
both parties-by a Diplomatic agreement rendering
it needless for the United States Government
20 withdraw OF amend Its case, Fe'
placing Great Britain in the same position MS IL none
but Direct Claims had been preferred" VINO
pointed it out we need not ask nor, IN view Oh Inc
friendly words we now hear on all sides, need we NC
too curious to ask who has pronounced this iuehoo
settlement inadmssible. But we seem 10 pe On .ne
road to certain interesting reVelations vi Wnioh
hint appears in the same article. Looking pach d.
the negotiations by the light of subsequent events
We cannot but feel" remarks Inc Times, biiat
il was weak delicacy which shrank from
boldly erapplng with known risk of mis-
understanding and defining the subject OF
arbitration in language which could not De
m;stakenp We are to understand, then, that the
Treatv was left vague because the English Comms-
soners felt delicacy about ask ing to have 1t made
precise, and that they knew they ran risk OF MS
understanding. That is precisely what mas been
affirmed on side and denied on theirs, NZ'' that
with the knowledge Of both parties the language OF
the Treaty was made broad enough to cover the
Indirect Claims, and that it was perfectly nndn-
stood that they were TO be put IN i'll
order that decision might be had on
them. with the expectation that the decision
would he adverse. Why then all the outcry when
has filled the English press for four months past!
A. Ero1 Itch
think il necessary take the English press INTO ITS
confidence with respect to this understanding. If
matters had gone on in the usual way, no great
harm probably would have sprung from this oinls-
sion indeed il is difficult to see how this Govern
ment could have stated the whole truth IN such a
way as to win confidence and at the same time de-
mand secrecy silence What Ministers falied 10
allow for was the extreme zeal of Mr. Bancroft DAVIS
Mr. Davis did not think his whole duty done when
he had presented the American Case to the Arbi-
traitors and exchanged copies with the Englsh
agent. He wanted to convince not merely the
Tribunal Of Geneva but that larger tribunal OF
public opinion before which professional dplo-
matist is usually slow to present himself till his
work is DONE but which amateur diplomatlst
NAV naturally have thought it prudent to conciate
in advance Copies of the American Case were scat
tered broadcast over Europe in three or four
languages. Among other persons pitched upon as
proper recipients of the important document were
the editors Of the principal English newspapers.
They-Inore eager than the English Cabinet
thought il worth looking into They were not slow
to discover the Indirect Claims and what followed
then we all know. / have explained more than
once and with great particularly of facts and dates
the supneness of the English Government dnring
the time the English journals were laundering
against Consequential Damages, and need not go
over an old story Twill only add toit one fact which
if it be fact, is new, and that is that not merely
we're the English Counsel during all this time
busly preparing their answer TO the American Case
but that their preparations covered reply to that
part of the Case which deals with the Indirect
Claims j do MT assert that fact within my
knowledge but az one of which ] am credibly
assured If it cannot be contradicted it is at least
an interesting contribution to the history Of a nego
tiation many facts in respect 10 which have yet to
see the light.
Be that as il may, the fact admitted or implied in
the above quotation from The Times and the unlucky
efforts of the American Agent to make known the
American Case, seem to have very direct relation
to each other. Mr.. Davis may be pardoned for not
anticipating the explosion of the English papers, or
for not suspecting their ability to force the Govern
ment into new line of policy, which was to imperl
the Treaty and the peace of the two nations But if
his share in the matter be correctly narrated, his
perence, costly it is, may prove useful lesson to
him aud TO both Governments
All that, however, belongs now to history and not
the history of yesterday. which is what concerns us
for the moment. The Daily Ners of this morning
gives what may be assumed to be an accurate ac-
count of the latest negotiations and of the latest
phase of them. According to that journal. Sir Ed
ward Thornton first proposed to Mr.. Fish the estab
lishment of general principal for the remuneration
Of all future as well as present Indirect Claims, so
offering to the Government at Washington some sort
Of pretext for withdrawal from the attitude in
which their Case left them; might say
a sort of fg-leaf with which to hide the
nakedness of their surrender. An instruction
to that effect to have gone from here to Sir
Edward Thornton. On Sunday last, Gen. Schenck
received a telegram from Mr. Fish. acquainting him
with this proposal, and presumably directing him to
ascertain whether the Government here stood ready
to ndorse the suggestion of their representative at
Washington An interview took place on Monday
between Gen. Schenck and Lord Granville. The
Daily Neps believes the purpot Of the proposal then
made to have been the following: The United
States Government undertake not TO press
for any pecuniaTy award upon the Indirect
Claims This undertaking is to be put into writing,
and made as distinct as words can make it, Then
follows the condition above stated, and The Daily
bdos is good natured enough to add that il is easy
to understand why the United States should be anx
ious in their interest TO obtain clear definition
of the rules which to guide conduct and theirs
for the future. The proposal received the prompt
attention OF Lord Granville and his colleagues and
their answer was communicated without delay to
our Minister To close the negotiations nothing
seems wanting but final reply from Washington.
With the rankness which marks all the English ut
terances on this point The Dails Ncrs adds that the