The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-11-05
BRILLIANT BUT FORGOTTEN DIPLO-
MACY

BRILLIANT But FORGOTTEN DlPLO-
MACY.
In the current number of the Forum
General Badeau, in an article on Hamilton
Fish. recalls what was really one of the
most important achievements in internation-
al diplomacy in the history of the Republic
the negotiations which ended in the joint
international commission for the settle
ment Of the Alabama claims and the Geneva
tribunal which followed. to arbitrate the
claims.
When General Grant became President,
in 1863, the relations between the United
States and Great Britain were about as
critical they well could be. The Senate
had just rejected treaty for the settlement
Of the Alabama claims, which made Great
Britain very sore. Senator Sumner had
just delivered his celebrated speech on the
indirect claims which further exasper-
ated the Britons. 1t was the purpose OF
President Grant and Secretary Fish to set
tie the Alabama questions by arbitration.
Consequently, their first efforts were to
impress the British Ministry that they de-
sired to enter upon an amcable discussion
of the merits of the claims of the United
States. Minister Motley. instead of pursu-
ing the instructions of President Grant,
deliberately presented the very opposite
views of Senator Sumner and himself. This
compelled Secretary Fish to assume, per-
sonal control Of the negotiations. There
has never been subject of international
contention which called for higher diplo-
matte skill. The claims of the United States
for reparation for the Alabama injuries
were to be maintained and a proud and
usually overbearing government was to be
induced to offer not only reparatlon but
apology; and this was to be accomplished
after the warlike attacks of Sumner and
the exasperating official utterances of Mot
ley. 1t took Governor Fish year to ap-
pease the British susceptibiities and to in
duce Mr.. Gladstone to propose a joint in
ternational commission for the settlement
Of the Alabama claims. President Grant did
not leave his Secretary to do this great
work of placating alone, but sent an agent
to England for the sole purpose
Of informing the British Ministry
Of his ardent personal desire for an
amicable settlement, and to do anything in
his power to foster feeling which should
make it possible Thus, when war between
the two nations hung in the balance the
greatest soldier Of the age became the most
earnest champion of peaceful arbitration.
Still, Motley interfered, attempted to do
so, but was removed. which made Sumner
the unreasonlng foe of the President and
Secretary, and obstacle to negotiation.
The joint commission was the first triumph
of the administration, even if the PROPOSE
ton did come from the British government.
Composed of men of eminent ability, Sec
rotary Fish was it's most potential member
and the controlling mind. 1t was largely
due to his influence, backed by President
Grant, that the Geneva tribunal to arbi-
trate the Alabama claims was agreed to.
This important work was going on at a
period when a senatorial cabal, led by
Sumner and Schurz, was assailing the
Grant administration with all the We
hemence that ability, wrath and venom
could inspire. y number of leading news
papers had an attack of reform which led
them to sustain the Senators with all their
power. Editors attacked the administra-
tion, and the Washington correspondents
served gossip and falsehood and seasoned it
with malice. For a time these influences
made a large portion of the American
people believe that the Grant administra-
ton was not only corrupt; but was sacri-
fcing the national honor. But the President
and his Secretary not moved. War
with England would have been more pop
ular but the soldier President and the
statesman Secretary stood out for arbitra-
ton. At the very outset arbitration came
near falling because of the indirect
claims But the tribunal, probably at the
suggestion of Secretary Fish. announced
that the indirect claims were not before
1t for arbitration. the case was heard
and the decision made which involved
admission of wrongdoing, secured an
award of $3.50 .OOO-suficient to pay all
claims-the prevention Of a terrible war
and the adoption of the most important
principle of arbitration into all interna-
tional disputes. Thus the greatest soldier
Of the age taught the nations how to have
perpetual peace, and the greatest of foreign
Secretaries this country ever had. with con-
summate skill and wisdom, successfully
carried out General Grants theory that
arbitration is better than war.
LIBRARIES FOR THE YOUNG.
OF literature bearing on the education OF
youth and the methods employed there is