The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-02-21

England would be grateful for free
dom to concentrate her resources in
the more important field of Euro
pean contest"
Impressment Of nc wrote,
was the M question presenting seri-
Gus, not imaginary. difficulties. When
America "set this up" as a reason for
war Englishmen had thought 1t a
pretext to cover "a war OF passion"
The war had shown, however, Amer
lean sincerity of conviction on this
point, and England could now discuss
1t without fear Of being thought
weakly concessive. The only alterna-
tive to diplomatic arrangement was
perpetual war. Himself accused Of
undue partially toward America, he
still believed that unless America
modified her contention Il would be
safer for England "to consider an
American Val as an inevitable con-
comitant OF a French war, and to pro-
vide for 1t accordingly"
Mr.. Galatians reply to this. dated
at st. Petersburg. August 81. 1918,
displays a spirit equally conciliatory.
couched in terms no more eQuivocal:
Neither Of US speaks in this CORE
spondencc officially for his Govern
ment. The correspondence can do no
harm. so long as we are discreet: and
it may do some good. Therefore, let
us go on with 1t. Your letter was
news to us. If your Government re-
jects the Russian offer Of mediation,
1t cannot negotiate with us, because
our charter Is limited. Although en-
powered only to negotiate before a
Russian instrument of intervention,
we are commissioned. after peace is
provided. to act indie pendently with
you for a commercial treaty. II Is
none OF our business to tell you why
you are silly to repel the Russian
OFFER: but II you don't mind VI say
ing so, Russia, whose with
us you have hurt. is sufficiently inter-
ested to be considered. The war has
diverted a certain portion of the Brit
ish force from the important object Of
European warfare" But in the mat
ter of your kidnapping our sailor boys
Russia has no concern: a umpire
with a sure eye for balls and strikes,
! putouts and a clean slide for the base.
w e are DuSl11eSS lTltt1uS Will INuSSid .
you are her ally In war. You are to-
gether against France; we thought
hat would let us out. II we may an
ticipate slang by a century. or: I'VE
did also believe that our accepting as
a mediator a sovereign at war with
France was such a clear evidence OF
u neither having nor wishing to
have any political connection with
this last Power that II must remove
those suspicious on the part of your
Government to which you allude. and
which. although altogether erroneous
and destitute OF foundation, might
probably continue to have an unfavor-
able effect on its dispositions and
termination" We are trying to treat
you right: the "act OF Congress lately
passed" TO, which you allude as ar
indication Of our determination to
adhere pertinaciously' to a policy
against which diplomatic negotiation
can he only nugatory is really "a pri-
mary evidence Of the general dispose
ton If the American Government tc
advance toward a compromise Let's
stop right here, because TO say more
would be to play our openers In the
big game. But YOU will see there are
two sides to every triangle besides the
base.
Perfectly polite. Mr.. Gallatin wa
not letting his European sympathles
run away with his artihcially done
on Amcricanism
But Mr.. Barring was British of the
Britons. He replied:
The gument used by you IN favor q
a Russian mediation are very ingenious
and no inference o: insincerity IL draw
from Americas adopting this mode, bu
there are circumstances connected will
the nature Of the question which maxi
IL negligible. when In any common poiiti
cal dlssension &, might ne the most "a
tional and satisfactory course to pursue
e But the determination Is her
irrevocablc. . We wish for peace
The pressure Of the war upon our com
merce and manufactures is over, the!
have ample relief in other quarters. and
indeed. the dependence OF the two coun
tries upon each other was, as 1t usual,
is. ovcrrstcd. But the war has no oh
leot; Il Is expensive. and We want {
larry our efforts elsewhere. our desir
OF peace. therefore. cannot be doubted.
We are ready. said Mr.. Barins
in effect. 10 be reasonable; hut yoi
may expect Il find us mighty firm
in our definition of what is reason
able.
When direct negotiation was Il
nally undertaken, at Client. TIL
English commission consisted OF Lor,
Gambler, DR.. Adams and Mr.. Gerould
the American OF John QuinC,
Adams, Gallatin. Bayard, Henry ella.
and Jonathan Russell. The Gallatil
diary sets forth amusingly the fric
ton between Adams and Clay on on
side and Gallatin on the other, ant
gives an enlightening account of TN
conduct of the negotiations. Eng
lands first demands were humorous
we were to give the Great Lake
over 10 her, and cede the whole of tn
Northwest Territory to the Red In
dams.