The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-08-08
A BUsINEssLIkE NEGOTIATION.

The present negotiation for peace has sew
eral peculiarities that distinguish it from
any previous negotiation of the kind. 1t
is peculiar in having been opened by one
of the belligerents by an overture made Of
its own motion through the representative
of another power. 1t is further peculiar
in having been carried on by wire directly
between the Cabinets of the two govern
ments. without any Intermediary, without
commissioners and without an armstice
But perhaps its most remarkable popularity
is that it began with the statement by the
victorious power of its minimum terms of
peace in the form of an ultimatum, from
which there has been material deviation
Generally peace negotiations begin either by
both parties trying to mislead the other
as to what they really want or by the VIC
tor demanding a great deal more than he
expects to obtain in order to furnish basis
for concessions.
A curious instance Of a peace negotiation
begun in the dark, without any idea on
either side how it would end was that of
the treaty of Client, which ended the war
of 1872. In that case the negotiation came
Adams. our minister to Russia At his sug-
gestion the Emperor of Russia, early in the
year 1913, offered to act as mediator be-
tween the United States and England in
bringing the war to close. Mr.. Adams
communicated the fact to our government.
and, without waiting to learn whether Eng
land would take any action in the matter
or NOT the admi zion i'm March 1919
appointed two commissioners to act Jointly
with Mr.. Adams in carrying on the negotia-
tons. They arrived at St. Petersburg only
to find that England declined the mediation
Of the Car. She preferred to negotiate
directly with the United States, and, in
January, 1914, made a proposition to that
effect, offering to send commissioners to
Ghert for the purpose. The powers of our
commissioners were changed to suit the
case ard two others were added, making the
commission to consist of Minister Adams,
Albert Gallatin. James A. Bayard Jonathan
Russell, United States minister to Sweden,
and Henry Clay. England appointed only
three commissioners, Lord Gambler, an adj
miral, Dr. Adams, a publicist, and Mr..
Goulbourn, an under secretary of state.
Up to this time not word had passed be-
tween the two governments as to the terms
or basis of peace, and the commissioners
met at Client without any distinct idea on
either side of what shape the negotiation
would take. Their first meeting occurred
in Client on Aug. Z, 1914, seventeen months
after our first commissioners were appoint
ed. The British commissioners first pre-
scented their demands, as foows
/. That the United States should conclude
a peace with the Indian allies of Great
Britain, and that species of neutral belt
of Indian territory should be established
between the dOminlOnS of the United States
and Great Britain, so that these dominionS
belt or barrier neither power should be per-
mitted to encroach. even by purchase. and
the boundaries of which should be settled in
2. That the United States should keep
no naval force upon the great lakes, and
should neither maintain their existing forts
frontier; 1t was even required that the
boundary line should run along the southern
shore of the lakes, while no corresponding
restriction was imposed upon Great Britain,
because she was Stated to have no projects
of conquest against her neighbor.
3. That piece of the province of Maine
should be coded in order to give the En-
glish road from Halifax to Quebec.
4. That the stipulations of the treaty of
right of navigating the Mississippi river,
should be formally renewed.
The United States commissioners were
astounded at these demands, and yet on this
impossible basis as a beginning defnitive
treaty of peace was formulated and signed
by the commissioners on both sides on Dec.
"a, 1914. two years after peace negotiations
were opened and nearly five months after
the first meeting of the commissioners in
Client.
The strong contrast afforded by the pres
ent negotiation with the one above de-
scribed illustrates the progress of states
mar ship and the immense superiority of
modern methods in directness, celebrity and
practical results. 1t is the most business
like peace negotiation that has ever oc-
CURED.