The New York herald., 1875-11-24
THE WAR SPECK.
A Washington Correspondents Alarming Inter-
pretatOn Of Our Naval Activity,
WHO is THE ENEMY ?
Not Spain or Mexico, but
Great Britain.
A BIG FISH BON T..
Sangunary Contention Anticipated NOtwith-
standing the Washington Treaty.
The Immense Claims Preferred by Eng
land and Canada.
A BIG FISH BONE.
WILL AMERICA DECLINE A SETTLEMENT?

Washington TO the Boston Herald at late hour last
night
The rapidly arriving kilograms from the various
navy yards, and especially the significant news from
New Orleans that the government is preparing
centrate a feet or vessels there, justify the
dispatches to the Herald announcing that the govern
ment Is apparently getting ready for foreign conflict
Of some sort as fast as IL This matter has be-
subject of the very Importance Three facts
fully accepted by careful observers here ndsputa
be-First, the government fitting out all It's first
class vessels and large number OF ironclads with the
utmost despatch; second, the object Of these
absolute secret the best kept state
which Grants administration has ever held from the
people; third the object is not Cuba any or the
pending questions with Spain. Mr.. Fish undoubtedly
states the absolute truth when he says that there is
pending unsoved question between this country and
Spain which warrant the dtng out of vessels
at this time
THE MoMEEToUs PREPARATIONS
going forward compel no little speculation to the
object 1--WE secretly involved with some other
government, curiosity asks what government 1t is
against whose navy are likely to need so much
deence' We are apparently at absolute peace with all
the world. We have little bone of contention with
Venezuela, but Venezuela is a weak country, do
nothing against us and must pay the claim that
it. Is the government going to take possession
OF The lsthmus OF Darien and build canap That
absurd Congress alone could authorize any aggressive
movement in that direction. We have adif1cuty with
Mexico relative tho border but Mexico has shown
apparent desire to do justice there Our trouble is not
all with the Mexican government, but with the Mex
bandits, whom Lerdo cannot control Curiosity is
wholly oaned by the problem; but there is nation
with which we have a great unsettled question, and
that Is
ENGLAND
Persons we'll informed in diplomatic matters say
that the question is the fisheries, which left
settled by tho treaty OF Washington, and which
governments seems to be making no progress IN set
Ting II is far considerable question than has
been in the hands OF any modern American admins
tration II alleged that the Canadian government with
the consent fthe English government has presented
enormous claim for damages, arising out Of
the fishing rights accorded Americans
under tho szatreay of Washington. Be-
cause OF these claims the commission which to
have assembled TO settle the whole matter has remained
unorganized II will be remembered that Ex-Governor
Clifford at time selected to be mem
Der OF this commission, but of late nothing has been
heard OF the matter have heard it stated that the
claims presented by the Canadians for these fisheries
are in the nature Of
'NpREcT cLAMs.n
The object Of presenting them is said 70 be TO enable
The English to the moneys which they lost by
the arbitration al Geneva The claims are OF such a
that is necessary that the very first step taken
by government shall be to repudato them, Eng
land repudated indirect claims under the Treaty Of
Washington for damages done by the Confederate
In order take this determined stand, it is
necessary that
OUR NAVAL pEFENcEs
should be in first rate condition whether this con
necton exist between the immense preparations
making and the negotiations going on with Eng
land time alone can tell But If conflict with that
country to be provided against it is very plain
that our government would take exactly the
same course which Il is taking now 1t
was provided in the Treaty of Washington
that commission should be appointed
within ten years TO determine how much money was
due to Canada account Of the rights granted 10
United States fishermen to fish the coast Of tho
provinces in excess Of the rights granted 10 Cana
dian fishermen TO fish the coast OF the United
States. Four and half years have elapsed and
yet this commission is not organized Queen victo-
rias government appointed commissioner but
government has refused to allow the commission TO
ganze account Of the exorbant demands Of the Eng
lsh and Canadian governments During the session Of
the Joint High Commission il was offered on the part
rights but the matter len unsettled and the
Canadian government asks for sum vastly greater
than this.
Our resolved not to concede these de-
mands. IL very evident that II our government con.
templates any trouble with England the negotiations
with Spain afford very convenient shield for the real
purpose OF the government
LATER PROM WASHINGTON
The foregoing is supplemented by the following
despatch from Washington this evening
When the Joint High Commission in May 1871,
signed the Treaty OF Washington leaving the question
OF the relative value OF the fishing right granted the
citizens OF the respective countries undetermined and
RELOCATING Il 10 commission for settlement It saved
for England the right she wanted lay claim for an
indefinite amount Of damages for the Canadian fish.
cries, and left the way open to conflict between the
two countries % over the discrimination q
the nshng rights granted in the eight
eenth article OF the Treaty OF Washington
worth Is indicated by the offer made on our part by
Attorney General Williams OF 81 600 0O0 The English
refused 70 consider this ofer and a commission was
proposed one member 20 be appointed by the President
OF the United States, one member by her Britannia
Majesty and third by the representative OF Austria
ana Hungary At the Court Of London. This what
England really wanted-a tribunal before which she
could present enormous claim by way OF
Offset to the award 70 be made al Geneva and
which was afterward made. II will be seen
that IN the appointment of the commission, England
manifesty had the advantage the Austrian Minister
al London, II may be assumed would be likely TO be
moro .aVOIaOe to England bhan this country. BY the
language OF THIS treaty our government bound TO pay
TO England any sum which these three men two OF
them almost sure to be In favor OF England might
assess upon us II the commission once in opera
ton there would be
NO WAY OUT
for our government This explains why our govern
ment has not allowed the commission TO organize
Five years will have elapsed May since the adop-
tion fthe treaty The Queen appointed her member
Of the commission long ago and the responsibility for
delay is wholly with President Grant and Mr. Fish
No wonder the Canadians impatient and indignant
The English government has presented their behalf
a claim vastly greater than the originally
offered by our government and is waiting for the
opportunity to press tho claims
before the commission There Ia reason 10 believe that
the English government finding our government
wholly ndsposed 70 proceed to the adjudication OF the
award has adopted hTmer tone and Indicated its in