New-York tribune., 1900-03-11
THE DELAGO4 BY AWARD.

AT last" will be the general comment upon
the days news from Berne The Swiss tribunal
of arbitration has agreed upon the main points
of verdict in the case of Delagoa Bay. 1t is
high time. Indeed, ii is difficult to understand
why verdict should not have been pronounced
and the whole settled years ago That the
matter should have dragged for nearly ten
years-it was in September, 1890. that the
tribunal constituents fact not calcu-
lated to commend arbitration as a means Of
settling such disputes. The administration Of
justice should Nc doubt, be sufficiently delib-
crate to assure all possible correctness; but
within such bounds 1t should also be as prompt
as possible. In this case scarcely deem
ii TO have been prompt Lord Salisbury once
spoke of il as characterized with extraordinary
delay" He did not speak too strongly then; and
that was several years ago. But at last judg-
nient is at hand. and for that let be thankful.
The brief announcement indicates that the
award is in favor of the American and British
claims. The amount of the indemnity which
Portugal is to pay is not made known, nor Is
1t yet determined. But it is apparently settled
that she is TO pay some indemnity to the heirs
of Colonel McMurdo and the other American
and British claimants Those claims originally
amounted to nearly S9,O0O,O0O. What the award
will be cannot be foretold. But 1t is difficult to
see how it can logically be for much, if any,
less than the full amount. For there has been
little dispute to the amount The question has
been whether the claimants were entitled to
anything to hing. and it has been pretty
well agreed that if they were entitled to any
thing at all they were entitled to about the full
amount of their claims Practically, 1t has been
a question of everything nothing. The de-
csion in the claimants favor should therefore
mean everything"
1t is an interesting coincidence that this long
delayed award is finally made at the very time
when the Transvaal armies are routed and the
Transvaal President is suing for peace; and 1t
is pre-eminently fitting. For ii was the Trans
vaal and especially Mr.. Kriiger, that caused the
whole trouble. The Pretoria Government from
the first viewed with much dsfavor the build
ing of the railroad by American and British
capitalists, because that would make American
and British interests and influence paramount
in the bit of territory which the Transvaal espe-
cally coveted. 1t tried its best to prevent the
granting of the concession to Colonel McMurdo.
Failing In that ii planned 10 parallel his rail
road with another to which a monopoly of State
business should be given. Failing in that 1t
intrigued with the Portuguese Government to
bring about the confscation of the road and the
abrogation of the concession, in which it was
successful. And now, just as the Transyaal
armies are beaten in the field, the Transvaal
side of the railroad controversy Is finally beaten
in the international court.
The details Of the award will be eagerly
awaited The general principles already an
noupced are to be regarded with profound sat
isfaction. In deciding in favor of the claim
ants the Swiss tribunal has decided for truth
and right and has henored itself with an act
of substantial justice.