Year: 1872

for the purpose Of removing and putting an end 70 the
Indirect Claims. How many weeks is 1t since Mr. Flsh
was declaring that the President had not these
claims and could not and would not withdraw them
But don't stop TO dwell on Inconsistencies; that
would occupy me- too long. The rising OF the LORD
Chancellor brought Lord Derby to his feet with the re-
mark that the schenck letter had put different race on
matters and beoame question whether IL was worth
while 10 debate and divide on Lord RusselFs notion
whether Lord Russell had been taken into Lord Gran
yille's confidence do not know; more than know
whether not Gen. Schenck had himself ascerained In
advance from Lord Russell that he would he satshed
with the retracton embodied In the letter There arose


cry Of Where IS RusseV and 1t tappearedfhat knsseh
not In the House. The eagerness for his appearance
must have gratifed the vain old almost as much as
the incredible concession offered him by the American
Government He was In the building all the while; the
waiting and the cries may also have been part OF
the play In moment he came in, Lord Gran
VILE handed him Gen. schencks letter, gancing at which
Lord Russell exclaimed exultingy, my Lords, am
very glad the Minister Of the United States has made
this declaration think the Indirect Claims are with
drawn by it," But If he stil suspected some trick
he added that while he thought the debate need not
90 on he reserved the right Of bringing on ms motion
again If necessary Lord RUSSELL IN the course of long
public life. has had many triumphs, diplomatic ana
other doubt II any Of them ever gave him more
exquisite pleasure than this last II ia triumph over
the Government which he detests the most and OF
which he has twice within few weeks publicly declared
his dislike and dstrust II is triumph on question
which has heretofore brought him nothing but dscedt
and defeat on a Treaty which was c0ndemha-
tion of his foregn policy during the American war;
on a motion which attacked both his Government ana
ours which his Government resisted and 10 which ours
has succumed. The vote OF Tuesday last. the majority
of 40 against the adjournment moved by the Lord Guam
seor the strength OF The party which on this dues
ton would have gone with Lord Russell That vote indeed
and the expected defeat Of the Ministry IN the Lords
point TO another and less probable explanation OF
the course which has been taken The two Admnistra-


ons which are carrying these negotiations are both
I'm imminent peril Of overthrow. To both the saving OF


the Treaty seems essential 20 the saving OF themselves.


haye never doubted that the Gladstone Ministry have
been compelled take stronger ground than they wanted
TO from dread OF parliamentary and popular cri


csm. 1t has been equally plain that President Grant
and Mr. Fish have yielded to the commercial pressure
brought to bear on them and that their vacilaiion
and final surrender have been due TO calculation OF
chances with reference the election The Schenck letter
has all the air of a device by which two totterng Gov
ernments seek bolster each other up II secures the
Ministry here against hostile vote. 1t secures or is
meant to secure, for Washington rulers, the salvation
of Treaty which they have always hoped might be GER


fcae Of their wise conduct of foreign affairs what
other interest had Government TO take such step3
The British Government is bound by its proposal The
supplemental Article Of its drawing. To that part
Of it which provided for the abandonment OF the Ind


rect Claims both Governments had assented and In 1t
the Senate had concurred. The only matter on which
they are at issue the clause by which Great Britain
pledges herself make Indirect Claims for the fu
tre The only matter 10 which Lord Russelrs motion
related and on which the debate OF Tuesday turned was
then a matter on which the two Governments were
agreed. We had nothing to gain; there was nothing
more We could lose. Why did we intervene unless TO
shield Mr. GladstOnes Government from the eensure OF


the Lords And if that were the motive, what WAS the
consideration offered us, and when we expect to


know the true history OF this whole amazing and debas
ing fraRsacti0n Z" W. y