Robert C. Schenck to Hamilton Fish, June 13, 1872
No. 104. General Schenck to Mr. Fish.
No. 254.]
Sir: With this I transmit copies of all correspondence with the Foreign Office.
I send also reports of proceedings in both Houses of Parliament, and articles from the leading journals since that date, which will serve to inform you better than anything else could do of the excitement and anxiety here occasioned by the imminent prospect of the failure of the arbitration at Geneva.
Up to this time I am without any reply from you to my two telegrams of the 11th, and one of yesterday, (12th,) and I am, therefore, unable to inform Lord Granville whether you are willing to give any consideration to his last two communications. You have probably, however, telegraphed your further views and instructions direct to Mr. Davis. He goes from Paris to Geneva to-day, and has been furnished with copies of all notes and telegrams relating to recent negotiations and the points that have been in controversy.
I have the honor to be, sir, your obedient servant,
Sketch of draught note in presenting summary.
The undersigned Agent, of Her Britannic Majesty, has the honor to deliver herewith to Count Sclopis, &c., the printed argument, showing the points and referring to the evidence on which the Government of Her Britannic Majesty relies, as required by the fifth Article of the Treaty of Washington.
The undersigned is instructed by the Government which he represents to state that this printed argument is only delivered to the Tribunal conditionally on the adjournment requested in the note which he had the honor to address to the Tribunal this day, jointly with the Agent of the United States, being carried into effect, and subject to the notice, which the undersigned has the honor hereby to give, that it is the intention of Her Majesty’s Government to cancel the appointment of the British Arbitrator, and to withdraw from the arbitration at the close of the term fixed for the adjournment, unless the difference which has arisen between the two Governments as to the claims for indirect losses referred to in the note which the undersigned had the honor to address to Count Sclopis on the 15th of April shall have been removed.