The New York herald., 1851-08-02
The American Claims on Portugal.

THE REPoRrED DECISION OF THE PRESIDENT OF
THE FRENCH REPUBLIC.
Paris correspondence tf London Chroniclc1
A paragraph which appeared in one OF the Paris
papers of yesterday, the subject Of the indemnity
claimed by the government Of the United States
from that OF Portugal, for losses sustained by some
American citizens during the war between England
and America, gives q very erroneous idea OF the
real position of that question. Tho paragraph in
question states that those claims, having been
ferred, by mutual consent to the arbitration Of the
President Of the French Republic, Louis Nspo.
lton has just made his award, which is we are in
formed, favorable to Portugal, and M. Bsroche,
junior, the Of the Minister for Foreign Affairs,
has left Paris to make the communication TO the
parties"
The real fact is that one Of the questions in dis
Iute between the United States and Portugal has
been referred to tho arbitration Of the French 60
yerDment, but that, 80 far from an award having
been made, the question has not yet been opened,
and II am we'll informed, the lapers connected
with the case have not yet reached Paris
The claims Of the United states against Portu.
gal are of very long standing They nad their ORR
gin in the fact of Portugal having been q neutral
power when England and France at war, aud
some ADericin cruisers having been taken by
English shiIs Of war, under circumstances which
afforded the government Of the United states pre-
text for saying that Portugal, as neutral power,
in whose ports the American ships we're taken, was
bound 10 protect them. These claims were always
resisted BY the Portuguese government, and so
doubtful were they in point OF justice. that America
did Lot, for many years, think 1t right to enforce
them. But during the time that General Taylor
was President Of the L nited States, a peremptory
demand was made for the settlement OF the ques.
tion, accompanied by threats that, IL not complied
with, fleet should be sent into the Tagus to en-
force them. The Portuguese government was then
compelled to do something. Though still denying
claims Of indemnity which had been made, with
one exception; but as respected that claim (the
Of the General Armstrong cruser) IL expressed
'ts determination TO resist. Matters were In thi
l.. I..l -. Ix.., nf
The new President produced change Of ministry,
which took moro concilstory view OF the ques-
,ion. Negotiations were openef which have at
length brought about a favorable result. An ar
rarg, ment was come to between the two govern
mepts, by which Portugal agreed TO pay any in
IDENTITIES which might be due, with the exceptio
Cf thosc for the loss Of the General Armstrong A
convention, founded upon that arrangement, was
drawn up at Lisbon which has just been ratified 7
the two governments. BY this convention it Is sc =
tied that the total amount Of indemnity TO be pai
by Portugal 10 fixed at S9l ,I27, payable In tea
equal instaments, every Elk months, TIL the whole
Is paid of And, as respects the case Of the Gene
raj Armstrong, u Is left to the arbitration Of the
French government.
The case Of the General Armstrong is q peculiar
one. She was an American cruizer, which, being
chased by an English man Of war, took refuge in
tbc roads of Fsyal, one Of the Azores The English
chip followed her INTO the port but 10 the first in-
stance did not attack her. The Eoglish captain,
however, sent boat TO recennotre tho enemy
and the Americas, having construed the circum-
stance ~ an act Of hostility, fred upon the boat,
aud killed one Of the men. The result was una
workable. The English ship opened her broadside
on the American, who in n short time was prison
er For this affair the American government claims
an indemnity from Portugal, on the ground that,
beirg neutral power, she was bound to protect the
vessels belonging to the belligerent powers while
within her ports. To this the Portuguese govern
ment very properly demurs. IL contends that neu.
tral Iowers are only bound TO protect the ships OF
foreign allies as long ss they have the force 70 40
So and that in the case Of the General Armstrong,
Portugal had not that force for tsyai Is smaii
troops and resistance was therefore impossible On
that ground alone, the Portuguese government
would be entitled % resist the demsnd; bus she has
case The sseree,ors They were not attacked unit,
th,y had toln mcnced q wsnton and unproyokcd at
tack upon the English boats crew, add the subse
quent evcpts were the legitimate consequence o,
their evn folly % thia plain xateacat, thses o.