The Otago Witness.

Otago Witness, Issue 1101, 4 January 1873, Page 13

The Otago Witness.

DUNEDIN, SATURDAY, JAN. 4.

Looking back at the year which has just passed away, we find that it has not been marked by any striking events, if we except the settlement of the differences* between Great Britain and the United States by the Geneva Arbitration. At one time it certainly looked as if all the efforts of the Commissioners who framed the Treaty of "Washington would be thrown away. The discovery that claims for consequential damages caused by the depredations of the Alabama and other vessels, said to have been fitted out in British ports for the service of the Confederates, were not excluded by the terms of the Treaty, for a time upset the equanimity of the British Government and people. The bare prospect of Great Britain con-

Senting that a handful of foreign statesmen should decide whether the country should pay the enormous sum of two hundred million pounds to America, was enough to startle the coolest heads. The time was not one for recriminations, and the Cabinet, through whose' reprehensible carelessness no provision was made in the Treaty for the exclusiun of the indirect claims, redeemed itself to some extent by firmly refusing to allow claims of that character to be submitted to the Convention. What followed is still fresL on our minds. The arbitratoi*s met, and while the American Government were about to withdraw the claims for consequential damages, the arbitrators themselves decided that by the terms of the Treaty they had no power to make any award on account of them. The amount which Great Britain has to hand over is a comparatively insignificant price to pay for the settlement of a serious dispute between two great Dations. The expedition to Abyssinia cost- more than three times as much as the amount which the "United States will receive as damages for the destruction to American shipping caused by the Alabama, the Florida, and the Shenandoah. And had a declaration of war instead of a peaceful arbitration been the result of the negotiations concerning the Alabama question, the sum of three millions would have gone only a short way towards meeting England's preliminary expenses for the war. It has been said by many that this great event — the settlement of the Alabama question — will form a precedent which other nations pugnaciously.inclined will readily follow, rather than plunge into the horrors of warfare. We should be too glad to think so, but we cannot say that the signs of the times indicate a universal reign of peace. The peaceful solution of the Alabama difficulty probably arose more from the fact that America was not prepared for war, than from any earnest desire onthepartof the United States Government for the continuance of amicable relations with Great Britain. As for the latter country, her policy now-a-days is one of ' Peace at any price.' She no longer seeks after new territory. Indeed, many of her leading statesmen would gladly ,out the painter that attaches the Colonies to the seat of the Empire. ' The sentimental declaration by Lord Granville, some years ago, that in defence of her dependencies England would expend 'her last shilling and her last ship,' found no response in the hearts |of his colleagues, Since then the present Cabinet has maintained a studied reticence on the subject of the relationa between the Colonies and the mother oountry. The time, however, is approaching when England's policy of 'Let well alone,' will have to be changed. It is certain that the coming Intercolonial Conference will result in a decided expression of opinion being recorded regarding not only the question of Intercolonial Reciprocity, but that of allowing the Colonies to enter into reciprocal arrangements with foreign countries. Tn noticing these demands made by the Colonies, it will be scarcely possible for the Imperial authorities to evade laying down once for all the position which it is their desire the Colonies should occupy in regard to Great Britain. It will then be seen whether these young nations in the Australasian seas are regarded by British statesmen as important parts of a great Empire, or as territories which, it would not be worth I England's while to defend were she to become involved in war with some country possessed of a powerful naval force.

It would be hoping beyond hope to expect that England's Continental neighbours will adopt the precedent of the Geneva Arbitration in future complications with each, other. That they prefer fighting to arbitrating is evident. In France an army is being equipped whicfy in less than two years will be the largest and best disciplined that country has ever owned. Her soldiers will be supplied with arms of precision, and her artillery will be superior to that which is attached to the army of her late enemy. Austria, Germany, Italy, and Russia continue to strengthen

their forces. From no quarter of Europe does there come a cry for that reduction, of a .country's armament which is, after all, the only reliable sign of approaching times of peace. Let us hope that these warlike preparations are being made in vain, and that the only arena in which European nations will meet during the year which has just been ushered in will be the Industrial Exhibition whioh is to be held at the capital of Austria,