New-York tribune., 1867-09-11
PRICE FOUR CENTS.

But the United States Government in this view, won
itself liberty insist before the afblleI laI .'
actual proceedings and relations OF the British OQyoT,.
ment officers agents, subjects toward the unffd
occurred during the EcbelOn, are among the matters
which connected with Tie vessels whose depreuAuons
alluded to by Lord Stanley. the actual proceedings ai
relations OF Her AIr.siy's Government ts officer,
agents, ana Sn'negs, l1 regard 10 nc CHg' ,iS
in regard % the Rebellion aud lie Robes ere ne',std Iy
connected with The transactions OUT oi "hch tn"'o
Lord stanley's plan TO be TO constitute two des-
criptons OF ribuuas-One Bn arDter 70 deteFnlnc W"
question Of the moral responsibility Of the Bftsh gov
ornnent respect of thc Alabama, Florida Georgia, ard
other vessels OF that class aud the other mixed Conm
sion to Wudcate iAc socailed general claims o D9,n
Sides ana contingent reference TO the same Or other
mixed commission, 90 ascertain and determine the
amount Of damages for indemnify to he awarded IN thr
examined by the st tribunal IN the event ei Ne
cson, upon the question oi moral responsibility ia Iasor
No distreon as TO principle, between the tribunals
TO the United STATES "a be necessary; and Ia every
case the United States agree Only To unrestricted afDt.
ton Convenience may require that the claims shoo he
ever in The opinion of the United states should proceed
upon tho same principles and be clothed with The h~Dc
The President will be gratined If this explanation shall
sondI@e to remove aLy Of 1e difficulties WINE winch have
ment which is so sincerely desired by both.
WILLIAM II. SEWARD.
Charles Francis Adams. esq, &c, &c, sc.
Lord Stanley TO Mr. Bruce.
FOREIGN OFFICE, May ~, 1907
SIR: abStaned in my dispatch No 49, Of the ld IN
stant from making any observations on the eomnnnlca
tiOn from Mr. Adams toiwh that dispatch referred.
the expectation that might receive rom you son1
of the OF the American Government on h's sab
Not having heard from you, must conclude that Mr..
Seward has not made you acquainted with the n0the of
ton to him OF my dispatch No 81 of the 9Th OF March
have nothing Therefore, beyond The brief statement made
to me by Air Adams, 10 guide me Ia dealing with mr
sewards reply In that reply Mr. Seward says clearly
enough That the Government OF te United states cannot
consent to special and peculiar limitation 9i Arbitration
in regard 10 the Alabama CLAIMS such as Her haestys
Government suggest; but, from his next observation it
might be inferred that the Offer as regards arbitration
made by Her lajesys GOycrnment ia my dispatch OK
the 9th Of March understood 10 have appied Only 10
claims arising out OF the proceedings OF te Alanana 10
the exclusion of those arising out Of the Like proceedings
OF the Florida, Shenandoah, and Georgia.
1t is important to clear up this point and You will
therefore Mr.. Seward that the offer to TO
bTaOn not restricted 10 the claims arising out Of
the proceedings OF Alabaua but apped equally to
those arising out of the like proceedings Of the other ves
sells that have named. In tne words OF my dispatch ~
the 9th OF March, the matter at issue between the two
governments on wmcl 1re Briialn was ready 10 go 10
the vessels out OF whose depedatOns the claims OF
American citizens have arisen the course pursued By the
British Government and by those who acted under its
authority, was such rs wOnld involve moral response
bhty on the part or the British Government 10 make
good either in whole or in part the losses of Aercan
II s most desirable that there should he no misunder
standing this point but inasmuch as Mr. Seward says
that the Government Of the United States cannot give
anv preference To the Alabama claims of others regard
the form of arbitrament suggested you may INFORM
Mr. Seward that thefe was no intention on the part OF
Her Maesty's Government give any such prererensa
TO the Alabama claims over claims In the hike category
That some such msapprehenson exists on the part OF
Mr. Seward may, indeed, be further deduced from bh
statement that while the Government OF the United
States agree that all mutual claims which arose during
the civil war between citizens and SUBJECTS OF the twt
countries ought 10 he amieaby and speedily adjusted
they must insist that they be adjusted by one and the
same tribunal with like aud the sane FORMS and ON pfn
cples common TO all.
Now the question OF dsposing Of general claims in con
tdistinctiOn 10 tho specific claims arising out oI Inc
proceedings Of the Alabama and vessels OF that chs has
not hitherto been matter OF controversy between e twe
Governments has been mOOed in its present shape
by Her Maestys Government alone; and there ~ no sua
similarity between the two classes or claims as wonid ad
nit of their being dealt with by the process.
1t may he, however, and Her hajestys Governments
would gladly learn that IL the case, that the Govern
OF the United states to waive the question of
the alleged premature recognition OF bellgerent rgh@,
aud satisfied 10 10 arbitration on the nrst OF Ala
baa class OF claims provided that all claims whatever,
either sde arising out Of the events OF the war, are
adjusted by and the form Of tribunal with like
and the forms. and on principles common 10 all"
BILE The the specific claims such as those
arising our of the proceedings of the Alabama and such
vessels depends for their settlement on the solution of
what may be called an abstract question, namely,
whethe IN the matters connected Win tne vessels on.
have arscn the course pursued by the British Govern
ment and those who acted under its authority snch
would involve moral responsibility the part Of the
British Government 10 make good either IN whole OF IN
part losses of American citizens - the other.
era class of claims admits OF such narrow restriction
The number OF claims in thus class on either side may e
great the circumstances or each less dlhefent,
and the points involved an them complicated In their
and bearing and on these grounds alone rs
obvious that they cannot like those OF the Alabama cass
be comprised within n single proposition applicable In
principle to all bringing all within the compass Of
single division of an arbiter.
The reply which Mr.. Seward will return 10 your com
munieation this dispatch WILL it be hoped csar
up the obscury which rests upon the answer received
through Mr. Adams 70 dispatch OF the 9Th OF March
Her Malestys You will say, abide by their
proposals forth that dispatch Within the limits
set forth in that dispatch they are prepared to go
btration gard TO the Alabama aud such like claims,
the condition that simultaneously with the reference
those claims a. arbitration an agreement IN entered
the two Governments for the adjustment OK
general claims by a mixed commission. am &e
STANLEY.
The Hon. Sir Frederick w. A. Bruce G. C. b., &c, &c.,
&c.