Year: 1869

THE ALABAMA CLAIMS CORRESPONDENTS
The State Department finished yesterday the
copies of the correspondences called for by the
Senate on the Alabama claims matter. The
most important fact in the documents is the as
sent Of the British government to the transfer OF
the negotiations to Washington. A letter ap-
pears in the correspondence from Secretary
Fish, in which he takes much stronger ground
against England than has been generally repre-
sented. The document covers over 100 pages o.
foolscaP, and was sent to the Senate this after


Mr.. Fish, under date of June %. 1869, ad-
dresses Mr.. Motley to the effect that the Presi-
dent wishes that whenever negotiations or dis
cussionsOn the subject Of the Alabama claims
shall be renewed, they be conducted in the


MIR. Fish, on the 25th of September, instructs
Mr. Motleyto notify her Majestys Government
that he hopes the discussion win hereafter be
conducted at Washington, where any PROPOSE
tions they have to make and any views they have
to offer will be received and carefully consid-
cred by the President, with a purpose to reach
an amicable adjustment, If her Majcsty's Gov
ernment are disposed to meet this Government
in fair spirit, and to lend just ear to the
statement of the grievances of which the Gov
ernment and citizens of the United States COM
plain.


He says to Mr.. Motley that when he left
here on his mission the moment was thought not
to be the pOst hopeful to enter upon renewed
discussion or negotiation with the Government
of Great Britain. The President is now in
clned TO believe that sufficient time has elapsed
to allow subsidence of emotions of excitement
or irritation.


Mr.. Fish then gives history Of the acts and
events which have so much disturbed the other
wise amicable relations of the two governments,
and says although the United States are anxious
for settlement on liberal and comprehensive
basis of all the questions which now interfere
with the entirely cordial relations which they
desire to exist between the two governments
they do not now propose or desire to set any
time for this settlement, on the contrary they
prefer to have that question, and also the more
important question of the means and method of
removing the causes of complaint, OF
restoring the much desired relations of
perfect cordality, and the preventing of the
probability of like questions in the futnre to
the consideration of her Majesty's Government
They will, however, be ready, whenever her
Majestys Government shall think the proper
time has come for renewal of negOtiOtiOns, to
entertain any proposition which that Govern
lnent shall think proper to present, and to apply
to sueh proposition their earnest and sincere
wishes and endeavOrs for a solution hon
orabe and satisfactory to both countries
The President Is not yet prepared TO pronounce
on the question of the indemnities which he
thinks due by Great Britain to individual citi-
zens of the United States for the destruction of
their property by rebel cruisers fitted out i'm the
ports of Great Britain. Nor is he now prepared
to speak of the reparation which he thinks due
by the British Government for the larger ac-
count of the vast national injuries it has inflicted
on the United States. Nor does he attempt now to
measure the relative effect of the various causes
Of injury, whether by untimely recognition OF
beligerency, by suffering the fitting out of rebel
cruisers, or by the supply of ships. arms, and
munitions of war to the Confederates or
otherwise in whatsoever manner. At the present
stage OF the controversy the sole object of the
President is to state the position and maintain
the attitude of the United States i'll the various
with Great Britain.