The Daily News. SATURDAY, APRIL 11, 1914. INTERNATIONAL COMPENSATION CLAIMS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 268, 11 April 1914, Page 4

The Daily News. SATURDAY, APRIL 11, 1914. INTERNATIONAL COMPENSATION CLAIMS.

In a recent issue of The Nation a statement, which is said to emanate from a trustworthy correspondent, is made to the effect that China is faced with a peculiarly shameless claim from certain of the Great Powers. It appears that Chitia spontaneously set aside two millions sterling of her recent loan to meet claims by foreign subjects for damage done during the ciyil war, it being stipulated, according to recognised precedents, that these claims should be confined to damage done by actual military operations. So rich a carcase has naturally drawn a number of voracious eagles, each of which is hungering for as much of the flesh as it can possibly seize. To the credit of the British Government, be it said, moderation lias been exercised, its claims amounting to only £150,000. America has also acted fairly, but other Powers are asking for compensation on such fantastic grounds as loss of wageß caused by the commercial deadlock, debts owing by natives as individuals, and rents for warehousing goods which were Unsaleable during the revolution. The effect of putting forward such preposterous clainfs has been, it is statod, that the British Government is preparing to raise its claim by over a million if the other Powers press their extortionate demands. Tho incident forcibly recalls the claims made by the United, States against Britain in relation to the losses occasioned by the Alabama during the American Civil War. It will be remembered that the Geneva Arbitration Court, to whom the dispute was referred, awarded the United States over three millions for compensation in spite of the strenuous opposition of Lord Chief . Justice Cockburn, who acted as British representative. It is wellknown that a very large portion of the amount awarded was never paid away owing to the recognised claims falling far short of the extravagant sum which Great Britain had to pay. It was never intended that what may be termed vindictive damages should be given in such cases, or that fanatic and far fetched claims should be put forward. Unfortunately China is regarded as a fair field for exploitation, so that to tlie many other serious troubles which that nation has to face is the process of squeezing 011 every available opportunity, British notions of fair play are sufficiently comprehensive to include a square deal even to tile much belittled Chinese, so that while threatening to counteract the machinations of unscrupulous Powers by means of a largely increased demand, there is no doubt that the intention is to prevent China being blackmailed, and in the event of, an amicable arrangement not being arrived at, recourse will in all probability be had to Tile Hague Tribunal, which, it is hoped, will decide in a far more reasonable way than was the ease with the Alabama claims.