Evening star., 1915-02-07

by the natural course of politics be-
came Secretary of State. but not pre-
mier of the administration.
One of the most curious documents
in American political history is the
program submitted by Secretary
Seward to Lincoln month after the
administration assumed responsibility
for the affairs of disunitinS nation.
1t was entitled Some Thoughts for
the Presidents Consideration.
After outlining the policy for domes-
tic affairs, under the heading For
Foreign Nations with others. Secre-
tary Seward made these two sugges-
tions:
Il would demand explanations from
Spain and France categorically at once.
and if satisfactory explanations are
not received from Spain and France
would convene Congress and declare
war against them.
The rejection OF Stewards program
in its entirety by President Lincoln
avoided the necessity of specifically re
jecting the suggestion of hostilities
with European countries. But LIN
coins cast of mind was not such that
he could look upon a foreign war as a
justifiable means of insurlns domestic
peace, even if it We're practlca Bile
The sea of foreign complications IN
which the Lincoln administration was
ingulfed during the first year or the
civil war became mountainous IN tne
are not students of international law
recall the exact circumstances. They
therefore may bear brief recital
The British mail steamer Trent No
vember :. 1861. left Havana Tor 81
Thomas with the Confederate commits =
sioners Mason and Slidell. and their
two secretaries on board. The follow
ing day the Trent was hailed by the
United States frigate San Jaclnto, uh-
der command of Capt. Wilkes. The COM
missioners and their secretaries were
removed from the Trent. when was
then allowed TO proceed, while the
commissioners ana thelr secrela
were taken to Fort Warren.
Public sentiment in the north ar nrs'
pretty unanimously approved the ac-
ton of Capt. Wilkes, and public sehti-
ment in Great Britain was almost as
unanimously wrathful.
After little time for conSldera tloh
responsible leaders in the north saw
that even if the United States had not
reversed its historic opposition TO the
abuse of the right of search serious
mistake had been committed In the
seizure of Mason and Slideu-
Friends of the Union in Great Brit
ain. led by Bright and Golden, sought
to counteract the efforts of the aristoc-
racy to force England into war with
the United States The British govern
ment. with Earl Russell at its head,
was not remarkable for friendliness to
the north but it was not especially
anxious for war.
The way for a peaceful settlement
was opened by Secretary Seward in a
letter dated November 80 to Minister
Adams at London, in which the Ameri-
can minister was instructed to inform
the British government that the cap
ture was without instructions from
Washington, and that the government
at Washington was ready to discuss
the subject. This was the diplomatic
way of saying that the matter could be
arranged.
The same day that Secretary Seward
dated his letter to Minister Adams.
Earl Russell transmitted instructions
to Lord Lyons. the British minister in
Washington. The substance was that
England demanded the liberation of
the commissioners end their secre-
tari.s, and an apology. y later 1nstruc-
tion to Lord Lyons was to wait seven
days for "A reply, and then If no reply
was received, OF if it was unsatlsfac-
tory, to close the legation archives and
withdraw to London.
These Instructions were not literally
carried out, because private inter
change of views. which is the real
strength of diplomacy. enabled the So
luton of the difficulty to he had
Lord Lyons. who was a bachelor, was
"a favorite with President Lincoln. who
sometimes joked him. and he was also
on good terms with Secretary Seward.
The period of waiting, however, was a
most anxious one.
The crisis came at cabinet meeting,
which was held on Christmas day. Sen
ator Sumner was present, by invitation.
and read letters he had received from
Golden and Bright urging that the
United States make reparation and
conciliate British friendship.
One of Cobden's letters to Sumner
quite likely was not read by him to
the cabinet. Golden was unable to do
Seward full justice. In one of his let
ters to Sumner he said:
There Is impression. l know, In high quar-
tiers here that Mr. Seward wishes 10 quarrel with
this country. This seems absurd enough | con
fess ] have little confidence in him as have
in Lord Palmerston. Both will consult bunkum
for the moment without much regard, I fear, for
the future
Seward, however, did not defer to