Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, Transmitted to Congress with the Annual Message of the President, December 2, 1872, Part II, Volume II

No. 103.
General Schenck to Mr. Fish.

[Telegram.]

London, June 12, 1872—3.45 p.m.
(Received at 10.45 p.m.)

Have this moment received another long communication¹ from Lord Granville. It is in a very friendly spirit. He recapitulates the history of the negotiation for a supplementary Article, and then proceeds as follows:

[Earl Granville to General Schenck.]

Her Majesty’s Government believe, therefore, that they have met all the objections, so far as they have been informed of them, which have been from time to time advanced to the suggestions which they have made, and that this recapitulation of the negotiation shows that, unless Her Majesty’s Government have erred in their view of the probable intention of the Senate, the two Governments are substantially agreed, or that, if there is any difference between them in principle, it is reduced to the smallest proportions.

On the other hand, the objections which Her Majesty’s Government entertain, and have expressed, to the language of the amendments made by the Senate, are founded upon reasons to which they attach the greatest importance, though they think it possible that the Senate did not intend to use that language in the sense which, according to the view of Her Majesty’s Government, the words properly bear.

The Government of the United States have stated in the telegraphic message from Mr. Fish, to which I have already referred, that there are some cases not provided for in the words suggested by Her Majesty’s Government on the 30th of May. If the Government of the United States are of opinion that these cases are not covered by the last proposed form of Article, and will state what are the cases in question, Her Majesty’s Government cannot but think that the two Governments might probably agree upon a form of words which would meet them without being open to the objections which they have felt to the wording of the Article as proposed by the Senate. Her Majesty’s Government have never put forward their words as an ultimatum, and they will he willing to consider at the proper time other words, if an adjournment is agreed upon.

I shall make no reply at present to this communication, not having from you any answer to or comment on Granville’s note of 10th, telegraphed yesterday morning. Have sent Davis copies of all notes and telegrams. He goes to Geneva to-morrow.

SCHENCK.

1. For full text of this note see p. 573.