NEWS OF THE WEEK
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VERY crowded houses listened on Monday to Mr. Gladstone's and Lord Granville's explanations of the present condition of the weary negotiations with the United States. Both Ministers stated that the British Government has never receded from the position it took up on the Indirect Claims, and virtually that it never would recede ; that the Government of the United States had in like man- ner not receded or shown any intention of receding from its position that the Treaty did contemplate the submission of the Indirect Claims to the Geneva Tribunal ; but that on the 28th of April a proposal was made by the American Ambassador, General Schenck, which seemed to offer the basis of a possible settlement, and which the suggested should be carried out by an exchange of Notes ; and that in the end,—the President doubting his power to agree to our -terms without the assent of the Senate,—Great Britain was asked to sketch out a Supplemental Article to the Treaty, such as, if -agreed to by the Senate, might satisfy our Government. Lord Granville evidently did not like the task of drafting an Article which was to be sent to the Senate as our proposal rather than the President's, but he waived his scruples and did so, and this Article was, as he and Mr. Gladstone assured Parliament, at that moment wader the consideration of the Senate is secret session.
