Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1865-10-24
Correspondence Between the American
- u Minisfer and Earl RneseII.

Important diplomatic correspondence be-
tween Mr.. Adams, the American Minister, and
Earl Russell, is Published in the London Ga
.ette of the 11th inst. ID.
The correspondence begins with q letter from
Minister Adams, dated the 9TH of April last,
in which he calls the attention OF Earl Russell
to the Official reports respecting the ravages of
the Shenandoah, and announces that for the
damages caused by such cruisers his govern
ment cannot avoid ,entaillng the responsibility
The reply Of Earl Russell is dated May lth
He says that the duties of Great Britain to-
wards the United States are not measured by
the Losses which the commerce Of the latter
may have sustained. The question is simply
whether the Queens government have faith
fully and honestly performed the duties which
International laws and their own municipal
laws imposed upon them ...
The reply Of Mr.. Adams is dated May 9Th
He says that the insurgents became belliger-
ents on the ocean solely by reason of the facili-
ties furnished in their Majesty's ports for them
10 do so. He complains OF the secret sy mpathy
of Her Maiesty's Officers in the port Of Liver
pool, and contends that, after the Information
which he supplied respecting the Alabama, IL
Board of Customs that this vessel, admitted TO
be intended for war purposes, was suffered 70
depart from Liverpool
An interval of three months elapsed be-
tween the above letter and Earl Russell's re-
ply to it. ..-f-
In response Earl Russell proceeds 70 Justify
>
recognizing the belligerents, and reasons are
given why there was extreme difficulty in Civ
ing orders to exclude from British ports YES
sells of war partly fitted up in the United
Kingdom.
A very important point is referred to in this
letter. Earl Russell notices a statement in a
letter from Adams, in 1863, as 10 the Govern
ment OF washington being ready TO refer these
disputes to arbitration.
Earl Russell declines this offer and says it is
question, in the first place, whether the Queens
- e..
tanning their neutrality; and, I'm the second
place, whether the Ia wv officers of the Crown
have correctly interpreted British statute.
Earl Russell continues:-ssThe q ueen's Gov
eminent can refer neither of these q uestions 10
arbitration" The words used by him are as
follows -..-.E. d
dians OF their own honor. They cannot admit
they have acted with bad faith in maintaining
the neutrality they professed. The law officers
of the Crown must be held TO be better inter-
prefers of a British statute than any foreign
Government can be presumed TO be. Her Ma
jestys Government must therefore decline 70
make reparation and compensation for cap
lures made by the Alabama, or to refer the
question of any foreign State. Her Majesty's
Government conceiyes that If they were to act
otherwise they would endanger the position
Of neutrals in all future wars. Her Majesty's
Government are, however, ready TO consent to
the appointment OF a commission, to which
shall be referred all claims arising during the
late civil war, which the two powers shall
The reply OF Mr.. Adams is dated the 1stn of
September. and Is very serious in its tone.
MI. Adams considers that there lie now no
dispute as TO the fact that the recognition of
the South as beiligerents was such an act as
was never done by one nation towards an other
in state OF amity. He charges the British
Government with ha wing acted without know
ledge, and upon mere pres umption, in ass a.
ming that the evidence of the blockade of the
Southern ports was imperfect The blockade,
he says, was the consequence, not the cause OF
tsh uaf link hat fta,,,
for the British Government is that its conducs
was precipitate. He then intimaies that if the
doctrines and practices of the British Govern
ment are allowed to become the rule. the
United States will not become the greatest
Mr.. Adams does not appear to think that the
proposal Of Earl Russell, 10 refer the questions
in dispute 10 commission, will be accepted by
the United States Government. -.
The Times and the Post are silent on the cor
respondence.
The Daily Neaos says: .- ..-
Besides the magnitude of the questions affect
ing neutrals, the matters in dispute are closely
connected with the nainten ance of friendly re-
lations between England and America.
The Star. in referring to the escape Of the
Alabama from England, remarks, there may
perhaps, be negligence, without such gross
culpability as TO render us liable. for all the
damages which the escaped privateer perpe-
trated But If our views on these questions
should differ from those OF the United States
and they should insist as psremptorily upon
their claims as we upon our denial Of respon-
sibility, what then Are we TO run the risk of
rupture rather than consent to arbitrationl
The Star awaits the instructions from the
United States Government with much appre-
henson, and dares not say what effect il will
have upon the temper of England, nor what
between the two countries may not result from
deliberate attempt TO appraise the losses
caused by Confederate cruisers upon England,
and TO exact payment for them. ~