New-York tribune., 1882-04-09
LEADING TOPICS IN LONDON.
Try CABLE TO THE TRIBUNE ]

lBY CABLE TO THE TRIBUNEl
,o,.Do. April s-The truth about American in
,srventon in behalf of the Irish-American suspects
;s sstaed by an English authority TO be as folio"s
No American. known to be such when the WARRANT
was issued. has been arrested. The TACT OF q sus-
x>o.t beinc an American or Of foreign nationality
vonld not have been considered by the Irish Execu-
five to constitute immunity from arrest II the ac-
crsed persou brought himself within the range OF
the Coercion Act.
THE COERCION ACT.
Th;s act has been administered, like every other
oct for the prevention of crime without respect OF
nersons. Cases arose early last year where
the suspects were Of alleged American hauoh-
olitv. Every such case was carefully eX-
omined The American Minister invariably, pur-
snant TO instructions lodged in the British Foreign
Office a formal statement of the prisoners caim'
.ore,bsr with a request for particulars of the
offence and speedy trial. One suspect was re
leased last autumn. About month since The
ouestion was brought more urgently before tir
British Government, Mr.. Lowell, in obedience ro
Instructions from Washington. asking the release
of all the lrish-American suspects.
Active negotiations followed The British Gov
ernment never admitted nor understood the Ameri-
can Government to claim that it had legal night to
interfere. The Government would resist such
claim if il was advanced 1t is believed here that
the American Government expressly tacitly ad-
ritted that Americans in Ireland violating the law
become subject to the same penalty as 1rishmen.
No English lawyer ventures TO assert or to admit
the right of foreign Government to discriminate
between he English statutes, or to allege that its
subjects were liable under one and not liable under
another.
TIE COURSE OF TIE GOVERNMENT.
But when the American Government urged the
release of the American suspects on the grounds OF
oxpedency and comfy. the British Government
showed an immediate readiness to listen to the
various proposals. Suggestions were made on both
sides the British Government inviting the Amer1-
can Government, when dissatisfied with the first
proposals themselves to state what would be salts
factory Mr. Forster expressed TO everybody with
whom lie conversed not only willingness but an
anxiety to grant the releases. The British Govern
ment finally agreed to release all who would PROM
se to leave the country 1t is believed that it con-
tented itself with even lcss-a pledge from some of
those actually discharged. If any lrish-Amercans
remain in Jail, they remain because the Land
League wants them to remain there Some sus-
poets in obedience 10 the orders Of the League.
refuse to 60 out of the open door The Parnelliics
were bitterly disappointed that any Americans
should have accepted the Governments terms, and
endeavored to persuade those released TO refuse to
leave the country, and thus TO keep the dispute
open and start fresh difficulties. The genuineness
Of American naturalization is open to suspicion in
more cases than those mentioned The sale of nat
uralizatlon papers is openly transacted in London
All the aforementioned negotiations, including the
proposal for the release, on which the British Gov
eminent apparently acted without waiting for the
American acceptance, occurred before the New
York meeting was held, and before the Irish agita-
tOn in America attracted attention here. The sole
effect Of that agitation was to make conces-
sion more difficult. The British public fully
Understands that the Government has yielded
a
vction would upset this or any other Ministry
lopious American kilograms convince Englishmen
that this agitation is essentially Irish and that
Whatever the American participation may be, it
exists purely for political purposes. The whole
demonstration is dramatic in its character. The
Lugilsh pubic understands that the Irish wish
10 embrol the two countries; hence the sobcrness
with which the subject is discussed here the acqu
escence Of the public in the Governments conces
sion to a friendly request, and the moderation Of
The Conservative press which practically supports
the Government. The situation is reported TO be
Que, also, partly to communications exchanged be-
tween the Ministers and the leaders Of the Opposi
hon' course not unusual where grave questions
arise with foreign Government. The attempt of
The New-York Irish organs to attribute the release
70 the New-York meeting is conclusively confuted
BY the dates in the same journals
MR.. LowEILs ATTITUDE.
The attacks on Mr.. Lowell indicate an equal reci-
iessness of facts know from English sources how
Er. Lowells conduct in these negotiations is con-
ndered. His action was characterized by unremit
ting energy ingenuity, variety of resource and bold
Cess. He availed himself of every diplomatic ex-
Pdient and did not hesitate to depart from diplo
matte usage. at the risk of affrontng foreign Min
ter in order to execute the wishes of his own Gov
eminent. Those very personal intimacIes of which
MI Lowells Irish critics complain contributed to
she effectiveness of his action. Regardless Of et
suette, Mr. Lowell pressed the matter not only with
f.arl Granville. but with Mr. Gladstone and Mr