Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1915-06-17
WAR WITH BRITAIN AVOIDED
How President Lincoln Treated
a British Ultimatum.
A Forgotten Chapter in Our Civil Wnr
Discussed by Congressman Dale
Diplomacy VS.. War
Now.


willie Congressman Porter II. Dale dis
cussed a forgotten chapter In our CIVIL
war as follows:
That diplomatic relations must be ais
crectlv and iudicously established and
maintained between the federal govern
ment and Great Britain became apparent
to the president and his cabinet inne-
diately after the call went out for Noiun-
teers Like all events preparatory to war
fare this necessity was much greater
than realized even by those who under
stood It hest. The confederacy had an
nounced separate government and as
sun1ed authority to issue commissions to
privateers to cruise the seas and capture
ships and merchandise of the United
States.
The federal government had declared
all southern ports under blockade to
prevent ships going after or bringing in
supplies for the confederacy. At this
tuncture 1t was a critical question he
tween the United States and foreign
powers as to whether the latter would
recognize the authority Of the Southern
States which had no ships or open ports
to issue its letters Of marque to priva-
teers
Till then the United States was the on
ly organized government within the
Union Hd for three quarters of n cen
fury that government had maintained
diplomatic relations and carried on coin
mercial and political affairs with Eng
land in a manner that had strengthened
from year to year the good relations be-
tween the two countries Because Of
these and other reasons it seemed GER
tain to the federal authorities that they
might safely depend. If not on the advo-
cacy of the Union cause at least upon
neutrality by Great Britain to the extent
Of DELAYING any recognition of the South
ern States as having distinct authority to
maintain the position they had asserted
on the sea In this reliance Charles Fran
els Adams was selected to meet the ur-
gent contingency and within co days Of
the Inauguration of President Lincoln
he was on his way as ambassador to
England
When the new minister arrived in Lon
don he was astounded by the information
that without waiting to hear his state
ment Of the conditions and disregarding
the interests Of the government he repre-
scented. Great Britain in concerted action
ton of the confederacy as bellgerent
power. In this manner began the humil-
iating and aggravating train of events
which Charles Francis Adams in London
and Secretary Seward in Washington had
to meet for years to come. and often ad-
versely criticised sometimes assaied with
calumny at home and abroad and always
perplexed beyond measure, they had to
cope with the terrific responsibilities Of
their positions.
There is no question to the right of
England or France under the rules of
maritime law TO recognize the Southern
States as distinct belligerent power but
to so precipitately give this ma terial adj
vantage to the South was a surprise TO
the federal authorities and compelled
them 10 enforce rigidly the blockade of
southern ports at the very first when
least able to spare the men or the means
TO do It,
This quick recognition Of authority in
the confederacy before the minister of the
United States could cross the sea and the
very day before he would arrive. illus
tratcs an important element in d!plo-
macy An act OF itself wholly sustain
able by international law may by the
sole influence of the time within which
1t Is performed change the whole course
of human events. The unparalleled haste
in which the European catastrophe took
form discloses somewhere an impulse to
create war. Official preparations must
have preceded the quick elimination
which cut off all attempts at settlement
or arbitration. The ultimatums to Ser
via limited to 4s hours and to Belgium
to ~ hours carried incalcuable force.
The late British ambassador to Vienna
expresses a generally accepted fact in
saying "A few DAYS delay might in all
probability have saved Europe from one
of the greatest calamities in history"
This element alone almost precipltated
war between European nations ana the
United States In the early days Of the
Rebellion Slidel and Mason had made
their way from Charleston. South Caro-
lima, 10 Havana, Cuba, had taken pass
age on British vessel with commits
sions from the confederacy with which
they were to seek acceptance as it's Of
fetal representatives at the courts of
France and England respectively, and
Captain Wilkes without governmental
authority had intercepted their passage
A BRITISH ULTIMATUM
The secretar; OF foreign affairs in Eng
land instructed Lord Lyons then minister
from that government to Washington,
to demand the release Of the prisoners
and their return to British protection
and stated that If the demand was not
met within seven days Your lordship is
instructed to leave Washington with all
the members of your legation"
In the excited state Of affairs in this
country at the time II was difficult to
fix public attention on the strict legal
status of the occurrence. II was said
That Great Britain was demanding of
this country redress and apology for do
ing the same kind OF act that she had b)-
pealed to arms to maintain her supposed
right to have done hundreds OF times I'm
the mprcssment of seamen.
The House of Representatives adopted n
resolution thanking Captain wilkes for
his conduct and our secretary OF navy
approved his action Beyond question the
act Of Captain Wilkes, could not have
been sustained by law, and the slightest
indiscretion In the diplomatic adjustment
of the matter would have complicated us
in war with European nations and been
fatal TO the Union cause,
France. Prussia and Austria Informed
the United States that they would sustain
England in her demand. II was suggest
ed at Washington that federal RESPONSE
billy could be avoided by declaring that
Captain wilkes acted in his Individual
capacity and in no sense as government
agent Had Lord Lyons made his de-
mand as he might had there been on his