THE WASHINGTON TREATY,

Grey River Argus, Issue 957, 21 August 1871, Page 2

THE WASHINGTON TREATY,

The Saturday Bevicw thus bitterly discourses on the inglorious Washington treaty, which the latest intelligence informs us has been abjectly ratified by Great Britain :— " There may, perhaps, be a doubt Aether it, is more politic to suppress a feeling of bitter indignation, or to pretend, with the majority of English journals, that a treaty which would have seemed harsh at the close of an unsuccessful war involves no degredation when it is imposed by. unspoken menace on one s.de and mere timidity on the other, In.pracT tice, those who regret and resent the abject submission of the English; Government will perhaps not greatly dissent from the opinion of apparent adversaries. As the commissioners, acting probably under direct instructions, have agreed to almost unlimited concessions, it will be impossible henceforth to conduct the discussion on equal terms. If the present negotiations were to fail, the American Government, would- quote against any English diplomatist who might wish to save the honor of his country the admissions of the present Ministers, and of a commission which on its appointment commanded universal confidence. A Cabinet Minister, a respectable leader of the Opposition, and a jurist of high cha- i racter and acknowledged learning, have admitted, the justice of the American claims, and their concessions have been approved by Mr Gladstone, Lord Granville, and their colleagues. It is evident that retractation would be difficult ; nor could it be reasonably expected that the American Government should at any time abandon the advantages which have been won. *After all, Pjeaceif^hiijlf was probably not in any cases enicfoiifftred, has-been for the present secured [and perhaps it is, premature to consider the probability of quarrel with some future belligerent who may enlarge his claims in accordance tyith the extension of --neutral responsibilities! i Tta damages will be enormously heavy, and Mr Gladstone and Mr Lowe will" probably make a -large addition tto the in- * cqme-tax; but -there js*no idoubt that' ' England is rich enough to pay<j anxThuiniliation for the wotueiit costs nothing." | :