No. 71.
Earl Granville to Sir E.
Thornton.
[From British Blue Book “North America” No. 9, (1872,) p. 32.]
Sir: General Schenck called upon me early this morning, and informed me that he had received a telegram from Mr. Fish stating that the Government of the United States declined to agree to the alterations which Her Majesty’s Government had proposed, as set forth in my letter to him of the 27th instant, in the Article of the supplementary Treaty.
Mr. Fish says that, holding to the opinion that the claims for indirect losses are admissible before the Arbitrators, the establishment of the principle embodied in the Article, or assented to by the Senate, has been its object in adhering to that Article; and that the recognition of that principle by such supplementary Treaty will be the inducement for withdrawing the claims.
General Schenck further said that he last telegraphed to Washington last night the whole of the communication, containing the additional obeservation which I made to him in my letter of yesterday, but that he did not expect to receive any further telegram from his Government before early to-morrow morning. He understood that Congress had agreed not to adjourn till next Monday, the 3d of June. Before that day, and probably to-morrow, he expects to receive a reply to the proposal to extend the time for arbitration beyond the 15th of June, and he therefore thought he should not have to trouble me before noon to-morrow.
I am, &c.,