Page:Anglo-American relations during the Spanish-American war (IA abz5883.0001.001.umich.edu).pdf/23

Rh, Aggressive agitation over these violations of neutrality continued until 1871 when Great Britain accepted the Geneva award.

Unfortunately, a number of factors served to minimize the propitiation of this compromise in the eyes of both the Americans and the British. Canada was seething with unrest, and revolt seemed possible. The United States recognized this and felt that Great Britain's acquiescence in the Geneva decision was due to fear of American intervention in Canada. Furthermore, J. C. Bancroft Davis, who represented the United States in the Geneva Conference, had demanded remuneration not only for direct losses but for indirect losses, due to the exclusion of American shipping from the seas and for the general expense of maintaining the war after July, 1863. His failure to secure these sweeping demands only served to arouse further American hostility against Great Britain.

Another source of American prejudice was to be found in the anti-British agitation stirred up by Irish immigrants and Irish-American citizens. Mr. Alexander Mackay who visited the United States as early as 1846 said: "In the Irish population of the United States is the true source of the enmity towards this country which is sometimes exhibited. Originating among these, unscrupulous politicians fan the flame to serve their own purposes" In 1865, Great Britain began to combat actively the Fenian agitations in Ireland; and with the suspension of the Habeas Corpus Act of 1866, large numbers of Irish