ADDITIONAL ENGLISH NEWS.

Southland Times, Issue 1550, 12 March 1872, Page 3

ADDITIONAL ENGLISH NEWS.

(From the Otago Daily Times.) Wellington, March 7th. A special from London says an impression prevails there that the Geneva Conference will necessarily disappoint the hopes of its friends and prove a failure. If the Conference should decide in favor of the American claims, no English Government would accept the result, and no Parliament would vote the money ; hence the Government would stop the proceedings. Now, if it was pretence, the argument of the Times is, that England should demur to the claim for indirect damages, and if the Court reject the demurrer, they should withdraw from the case. This is not an argument addressed to the Government, but a view put forth aa a feeler on behalf of the Government. The Times says : — " We cannot acquiesce in the construction, which we are determined not to acknowledge, if proved against us." New Tobk, February 7th. The Herald's Washington special says that the Tory party, although represented by Sir Stafford Northcote in the Joint High Commission, is desirous of forcing the Alabama question upon Parliament, and of procuring such a vote as would test its want of confidence in the Glad stone Ministry. The latter is consequently seeking an amendment of the Alabama case in order to parry the assaults of the Tories. A despatch has been received at Washington, urging the Administration to withdraw its claim for consequential damages. The English Minister, Mr Thornton, combats the correctness of the view taken by the administration re^rding the Geneva Commission, and that it should be treated as an amicable Conference. He contends that there could be no peace if the case were presented in the form of an indictment for misconduct. Mr Secretary Fish does not see how any claim can be withdrawn. In his judgment, if Chief Justice Cockburn should withdraw, there would be no hope of an amicable settlement. Evarts is about to return to this country for further instructions. A special to the Chicago Tribune relative to the Geneva Conference says that the despatch regarding the action of the British authorities upon the American case is believed by the authorities here to be highly sensational. It is not beiieved that any open action will be taken prior to the actual consideration of the case of each Government by the Board of Arbitration.