The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1872-09-21 00:00:00

SETTLEMENT OF TH,I "ALABAMA"
CLAIMS. . . .

------ -
The following is the summary of the Award made last
wva by the Arbitrators at Geneva :
" The Arbitrators at Geneva have given their Award.
They unanimously find Great Britain liable for the
acts committed by the Alabama ; by a majority of the
Italian, Swiss, Brazilian; and United States' Arbi-
trators against the Arbitrator appointed by Great
Britain, they find Greet Britain liable for the acts
committed by the Florida; and by a majority of the
Italian, Swiss, and United States' Arbitrators againet
the Arbitrators appointed by Great Britain and Brazil,
they find Great Britain liable for the acts committed
by the Slienamivah after leaving Melbourne.
"They unanimously decided that, in the came in
which Great Britain was held responsible, the acts of
the tenders should be considered to foLlow the jadg-
ment siren in regard to the cruise...al to ednoti thvy
wore attached.
"They decided that Great Britian was not respon-
sible for the acts committed by the Georgia or by any
of the other Confederate cruisers except the three
above-named.
"They rejeAval altogether the claim of the United
Staten' Government for expenditure incurred in pur-
suit and capture of the calibers.
" They deviled that interest should be allowed, and
have awarded a gross giro of 15,500,000 dole in gold
(about £73 229,166 13a. ) satiate. 'Bon end find esettle-
ulna of all th{llllB, including interest.
"The amount of the claims preferred before the
Tribunal, as appears from the Revised Statement of
Claims presented on Gls art the United States
in April last, was 19,739,095 dole. in gold, to which
was added a claim for expenses of pursuit and capture
' to the amount of 7,080.478 dole., with interest at 7
l per cent, on the whole amount for about ten
r or. in all, 45,500,000 dole, in gold or about
£9,479,166 13s. 411"

Count Sclopin made tine following speech :
"Mexefrurs et Clare Collegttee,--Our task Is completed and
the Tribunal of Arbitration tail au end. While it existed
the most friendly relations were constantly maintained
among as As rerards myself. I cannot sufficiently express
to you all the gratitude I owe yen for the help you have
rendered me, by your forbearance and Intelligence, in the
excrete of the delicate functions with which you had
Intrusted me We have had the satiefaction of witnessing the
complete success of the first pert of our work. el..nceived
simply la the seiae of an official initiative, no more flittering
praise could have been Mstowed than that expressed by the
two voices whose authority is the highest iu the two
governments Interested in the controverey. They admitted
that we had acted as fthivis of the two POW-111. Such, in
fact, was tie Into and deep feeling that animated us In
the second part of our labour, coutined entirely within the
circle of Judie* el authority which had been cunterred upon
an by the Treaty of Washington, we devoted the most
scrupulous care to our inquiries, observing at the same time
absolute impartiality, in as not to deviate firs moment lions
the rules of justice and equity. The co operation of the
eminent jurists who assist,d the two Governments, as well
as that of the agents who represented them, ren-
&red as efficient aid in this work. We are now happy to
eff, them our best thanks. and we carry with us the testi.
mony of our conscience that we have not failed in our duty. I
We ferv: wily trust that i,od will inspne all Goverment*
with the constant and active thought of maintaining thot
which civilised nations invariably desire that which
In the order of the moral as well as the material in-
terests of society is the chief of all blessings—peace.
Our last words we must address to Geneva, that
noble and hospitable city which has given us such
friendly i eci-pi ion. la bolding the city alias, I. tus give the
tut we shall never fork t it. Die Trlional
thou id it might be agreeable t i tile Gov.rninei.t of the
Republic to prenerve in its archives a mirmorhil of what has
occur,ed at the Rote l de Ville on th.a occ Aston. it Lon
or el that a copy of the dadiion, signed by all the me o-
hms, be deposited among the archives of the C Amen of
State. DI taking leave of this city we wish it all the
hoppineta wheli it merits."

A anuplement to the London Gazette of Friday, published
on St nday, contains the Award, together with the following
Protocol of the proceedings of the Tribunal of Arbitration
on Saturday :
" PROTOCOL XXXII.
---• • • •

..—.--
" Record If the Proceedings of the Tribunal of Arbi-
tration at the 32n1 Conference held at Geneva, in
Switzerland, on the 13th of Sept. mber, 1572.
"'rho Conference was held with open door', pur-
suant to adjournment. All the Arbitrators and the
Agents of the two Governments were present.
The Protocol of the last Coufererme was read and
approvml, and was signed by the Pratideut and Secre-
tary of the Tribunal.
"The Presideut then presents I the decislon of the
Tribunal on the question of the ' Atalanta Claims,' and
diented the Secretary to read it • which wait done, and
the Decision was signed by Mr. Chars Francis
A(311011, Count Frederic Salopist, Mr. Jacques Staainpfli,
and Viscount d'ltajubh, Arbitrators, in the presence
of the Agents of the two Gov nitrenta.
'A copy oi the Diatision thus signet WAS delivered
to each of the Agents of the two Governments re
specti vel y, and the 'tribunal decii let to h ave a third copy
placed upon record ; they further decided that the
Decision should be printed and annexed to the present
Protis•ol.
"Sir Alexander Cockburn, as one of the Arbi-
trators, having declined to assent to the Decision,
stated the grounds of his own decision, whili the
Tribunal ordered to be recorded AU an annex to the
present Protocol.
"The Tribunal resolved to request the Council of
State of Geneva to receive the archives of the Tribunal,
aui I to place them among its own archives.
"The President, Count Sclopis' then directed the
Secretary to make up the record of the proceedings of
the Tribunal at this 32mi and last Conference, as far
as completed; which was done, and the record having
been read ant approved. was signed by the President
, and Secretary of the Tribunal and the Agents of the
two Governments.
"Thereupon the President declared the labours of
the Arbitrators to be finished and the Tribunal to
t be dissolved.
3 "(Signed) " Fasnanic Smoris.
".1. C. BANcßorr Dans.
f " TENTEEPF.N.
"ALEX. FAVROT, Secretary."

The New York Herald, in an article criticizing the I
award of the Geneva Court of Arbitration, says that
a more thorough imposition than the Washington
Treaty has never been palmed off as a great diplomatic
triumph upon a credulous people. We have gained by
it neither honour, credit, nor pecuniary advantage.
The insignificant sum of sixteen or seventeen million
dollars will probably be more than swallowed up in
the counter away le to British subjects under the Com-
mission, and after payment of all the expenses in-
curred by our Government, will certainly leave us a
loser as a mere matter of dollars and cents, as well as
in hononr, consistency, and reputation. The treaty
leaves the bitterness and ill-feeling heretofore exist-
ing against England only ag travated by a sense that
we have been worsted in diplomacy and overreached
by a hard-driven bargain."

The World iays "We come out of Court admitting
we have unjustly abused Great Britain, and Great
Britain evince out of C iurt admitting she ought to
indemnify a fi-w of our citizens who suffered from the
carelewaisoi of some of her authorities. England can
well afford to toss those paltry millions into the out-
stretched hand of the American President, who kneels
to receive them."