The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-09-11

That some such Misrepresentation exists on
the part OF MIR. Seward may, indeed, be further
deduCed from his statement that while the
Government ofthe United States agree that all
mutual claims which arose during the civil war
between citizens and subjects of the two coun.
tries ought TO be amicably and speedily ad-
justed, they must insist that they be adjusted by
one and the same tribunal, with like and the
same forms, and on principles common to all.
Now, the question of disposlng of general
claims in contTadistnctlon to the epechc claims
arising out of the proceedings of the Alabama
and vessels of that class, has not hitherto been
matter of controversy between the two Govern
ments, but has been mooted In its present shape
by her Majesty's Government alone; and there
is no such similarity between the two classes
of claims as would admit of their being dealt
with by the same process.
1t may be, however, and her Majesty's Govern
ment would gladly learn that it was the case,
that the Government of the United States agree
TO waive the question OF the alleged premature
recognition of bellgerent rights, and are salts.
fed 10 go to arbitration on the first or Alabama
class of claims, provided that all claims what
ever on either side, arising out OF the events of
the war, are equally submitted to arbitration,
so that they may be adjusted by one and the
same form OF tribunal, with like and the same
forms, and on principles common 10 ALL"
This, however, from the nature of things, is
impracticable. The one class on the specific
claims, such as those arising out of the proceed
ings of the Alabama and such vessels, depends
for their settlement on the solution of what
may be called an abstract question, namely,
vessels ont of whose depredations the claims of
American citizens have arisen, the course pur-
sued by the British Government, and those who
acted under its authority, was such as would
involve a moral responsibility ON the part of the
British Government to make good, either in
whole or in part, the losses of American citi-
Zens;" the other, or general class, of claims
admits of no such narrow restriction. The
number of claims in this class on either side
may be great, the circumstances of each more
or less different, and the points involved in
them complicated in their nature aud bearing;
and on these grounds alone it is obvious that
they cannot, like those of the Alabama class,
be comprised within single proposition appli-
cable in principle to ALL and bringing all within
the compass of a single division of an arbIter
The reply which Mr.. Seward will return to
your communication of this despatch will, it
may be hoped, clear up the obscurlty which
rests upon the answer received through Mr..
Adams to my despatch OF the 9th of March.
Her Majesty's Government, you will say,
abide by their proposals as set forth in that
despatch. Within the limits set forth in that
despatch they are prepared 10 go to arbitration
in regard to the Alabama and such like claims
on the condition that, sm ultaneously with the
reference of those claims to arbitration, an
agreement is entered into between the two Gov
ernments for the adjustment of general claims
by mixed commission. l am, etc.,
STANLEY.
The Hon. Sir Frederick W. A. Bruce, G. C. B.,
etc. etc. etc.