The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-07-23
THE UNITED STATES NOT IN
DEFAULT.

A mugwump contemporary commenting
on Secretary Shermans sharp letter re-
garding the seals controversy, recently
said:
Would it not be well for the United
states to pay its debts before getting so
turiously indignant over Great Britains
failure to live up to the Paris award? Ger
tunly we could make our point, whatever
II Is worth, much more effectively ii
could show that we had discharged our
obligation.
This is both inaccurate and unpatriotic
1t misrepresents the facts for the purpose
of putting the United States in a wrong
position by making it appear that it has
violated a solemn award when it has done
nothing of the kind In reply to the state
ment the Washington Post says
We haven't the slightest doubt in the
world that the News knows, as we'll as we
do, that the United States owes Great
Britain nothing whatsoever; that no award
of damages has ever been made by any
competent authority for illegal seizure of
British sealing vessels.
This is true. In a legal sense a debt is
not due until it has been ascertained and
defined in amount. A man may sue fer
100000 and his alleged claim may be re-
duced by counterclaims or offset so that
he may recover only $1,000. There is no
debt, in a legal sense, until the amount is
ascertained Now the Paris tribunal found
that Great Britain had a claim for damages
against the United States for the illegal
seizure of British vessels, but it did not
award any amount. 1t did not even con-
slider that question, but left it to be ad-
justed by further diplomatic negotiation
During Mr.. Cleveland's first administration
Secretary Gresham and Sir Julian Paunce-
fote British ambassador, had some con-
ferences on the subject which resulted in
Mr.. Greshams agreeing to pay 1925, 900 in
full settlement of the British claims. This
agreement was Unauthorized and was re-
pudiated by Congress on the ground that
the amount was excessive and subject to
reduction by American counter claims
This action of Congress recommitted the
whole question of damages to the adjust
ment of diplomacy, and in February. 1856
a treaty was signed providing for the
appointment of a commission to assess the
damages, and Congress appropriated $4,000
to defray the expenses of the United
States in the commission. The sessions of
the commission began in November last
but it has not yet made a report. Until
it does it cannot be said that the United
States has defaulted in the payment of a
debt to Great Britain, because it is not yet
known what amount is owed. 1t is an in
teresting fact, by the way, that on the final
ratification of the treaty between the
United States and Great Britain providing
for the appointment of this commission an
amendment was adopted by agreement of
both parties expunging from the treaty the
word award" in reference to the decision
of the Paris tribunal, on account of the
impression likely to be conveyed by that
word that the tribunal had really made
an award on the question of damages 1t
would be most unjust even in a British
paper to charge the United States with re-
fusing to pay debt to Great Britain be-
fore the amount of the debt has been as
certained, but for an American paper to do
so shows lack of patriotism as we'll as lack
of information.