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elusion for the adjustment of the claims, he recommended 
the authorization of the appointment of a commission to take 
proof of all private claims, and the settlement of those claims 
by the United States, in order that the government could 
assume “responsible control of all demands against Great 
Britain^’. 
On December 6, when France was rapidly succumbing to 
the rising power of Germany, this “menacing” message ap- 
peared in the London papers and visibly quickened the speed 
of negotiations for a peaceful settlement. Sir John Rose, 
who had served on the commission for the settlement of the 
claims of the Hudson Bay Company, in a note which Fish 
read at Cabinet meeting on December 9, had already intimated 
that the British Cabinet was “disposed to enter into nego- 
tiations”. Exactly one month later, January 9, 1871, Mr. 
Rose reached Washington and in an after-dinner talk at the 
home of Mr. Fish prepared the way for referring all ques- 
tions to a joint commission which should adjudicate them 
or arrange by treaty for such adjudication.'^^ On January 
11, he submitted a confidential memorandum of a plan for the 
“full and final adjustment” of the various questions of dif- 
ference in order to secure the rights and interest^, of both 
nations and the “foundation of lasting bonds of amity”. 
In considering the success of the plan it was important to 
know the attitude of Sumner, whose friend Motley had re- 
cently been recalled from London. On January 15, Mr. Fish, 
after a conference with Senator Conkling and General Schenk 
(the newly-appointed successor to Motley) called on Sumner 
with the memorandum in order “to ask his opinion and ad- 
vice”, and above all to secure his approval of the proposed 
plan. After two days’ reflection Sumner, who had recently 
favored an Arctic expedition “not only in the interests of sci- 
ence but for the sake of the near future”, submitted his 
written reply in the form of an ultimatum based on the policy 
of Canadian independence. Referring to Mr. Rose’s idea that 
“all questions and sources of irritation between England and 
the United States should be removed absolutely and forever 
that we may be at peace really and good neighbors”, he said : 
Nothing could be better than this initial idea. It should be the 
starting-point. The greatest trouble, if not peril, being a constant source 
John Bassett Moore, International Arbitrations, T, 521-523. 
^9 Sumner, Works, XIII. 385. 
