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

dence between Ma Seward and Lord Stanley on
the subject of the Alabama claims, particularly
with reference 70 the matter Of arbitration. In
August, 1866, Mr.. Seward sent long letter to
Lord Stanley, and IN his letter of instruction to
Mr.. Adams requested him to inform Lord Stan
ley that, in the judgment of the President, a
settlement of these claims had become
urgently necessary to re-establishment of en-
tirely friendly relations between the United
States and Great Britain"
The following are the closing letters of the
correspondence
MR.. SEWARD TO MR.. ADAMS,
DEPARTMENT OF STATE, WASHINGTON, Aug IL.
-Sir:-I have now to recur to Lord Stanley's
despatch 10 Sir Frederick Wright Bruce, of the
oath of May, concerning the so-called Alabama
claims, copy of which paper he placed in my
hands during our recent visit at Auburn.
You are authorized to inform his Lordship
that did not understand his previous offer of
arbitration to apply alone to the claims arising
out of the depredations of the Alabama to the
exclusion OF those arising out of the depreda-
tions of the Florida, the Shenandoah, the
Georgia, and other vessels of that description;
and that on the contrary, Lord Stanleys offer
Of limited arbitration was understood to apply
equally to those claims arising out of the depre-
dations of the several vessels last named as to
those arising out of the depredations OF the Ala
bama.
His lordship now observes that the British
Government is ready to go to arbitration upon
the question whether, in the matters connected
with all those vessels out of whose depredations
the claims of American citizens have arisen, the
course pursued by the British Government and
those who acted upon 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 the
American citizens.
The President considers these terms to be at
once comprehensive and sufficiently precise to
include all the claims of American citizens for
depredations upon their commerce. during the
late Rebellion which have been the subject of
complaint upon the part of this Government.
But the United States Government, in this view
would deem itself at liberty to insist before the
arbiter that the actual proceedings and relations
of the British Government, its officers, agents,
and subjects, towards the United States in re-
gard to the Rebellion and the Rebels as they
occurred during the Rebellion, are among the
matters which are connected with the vessels
whose depredations are complained of, Just as
in the case of general claims alluded to by Lord
Stanley, the actual proceedings an relations of
her Majesty's Government, its officers, agents,
and subjects, in regard to the Rebellion and the
Rebels, are necessarily connected with the
transactions out of which those general claims
Lord stanley's plan seems to be to constitute
two descriptions of tribunals-one an aroiter to
determine the question OF the moral responsi.
billty of the British Government in respect of
the Alabama Florida, Georgia, and other YES.
sells of that class; and the other mixed Commis-
sion to abjudicate the so-called general CLAIMS
of both sides; and o contingent reference to the
same or other mixed commission, to ascertain
and determine the amount Of damages, for in-
demnity, to be awarded in the cases examined
by the first tribunal IN the event OF decision,
upon the question of moral responsibility, in
favor of the United States.
No distinction, as to principle, between the
tribunals seems to the United States to be neces-
sary; and in every case the United States agree
only to unrestricted arbitration. Convenience
may require that the claims should be dstrl-
buted between two tribunals, both of which,
however, in the opinion of the United States,
should proceed upon the same principles and
be clothed with the same powers.
The President will be gratihed II this eXplana-
tion shall conduce to remove any OF the diff
cUlties which have heretofore prevented the
two Governments from coming TO the amicable
and friendly understanding and arrangement
which is so sincerely desired by both.
am, sir, your obedent servant,
WILLIAM III. SEWARD,
Charles Francis Adams, Esq, etc. etc. etc.
LORD STANLEY TO SIR FREDERICK BRUCE.
FOREIGN OFFICE May 24-Sir:-I abs aimed in
my despatch No. 80, of the I'd instant, from
making any observations on the communica-
ton from Mr.. Adams, to which that despatch
referred, in the expectation that l might re-
ceive from you some further explanation, as
given by you TO Mr.. Seward, of the views oi
the American Government on tbs subject.
Not having heard from you, must conclude
that Mr. Seward has not made you acquainted
with the nature Of hislepy, sent through Mr..
Adams. to your communication to him of my
despatch, No. 54. of the 9th of March. have
nothing therefore, beyond the brief statement
made to me by Mr.. Adams to guide me in deal
ing with Mr. Stewards reply. In that reply Mr..
Seward says clearly enough that the Govern
ment of the United States cannot consent TO
special and peculiar limitation of arbitration III
regard TO the Alabama claims, such as Her Ma
jesty's Government suggest; but, from his next
observation, it might be inferred that the offer
as regards arbitration, made by Her Majesty:
Government in my despatch OF the 9th 81
March, was understood to have applied only to
claims arising out of the proceedings OF the
Alabama, to the exclusion OF those arising out
OF the Ike proceed ngs Of the Florida, Shenan
doah, and Georgia.
II Is important to clear up this point. and yor
will therefore state to Mr.. Seward that the Offer
70 go 10 arbitration was not restricted to the
claims arising out of the proceedings of the
Alabama, but applied equally to those arieine
out oi the Ike proceedings of the other vessel:
that nave named. In the words of nv despatch
OF the 9TH OF March, the matter at issTe betWeeI
the Two Governments on which Great Britain
was ready TO- go to arbitration was tWhether
IN lhe matters connected with the vessels out O
whose qepIeoanons the claims of American
citizens nave arisen, the course pursued NV IN,
British Government, and by those who Sctet
under Its authority, was such as wcuId invoIv,
moral responsibility on the part of the RritisI
Government to make good, either in whole u,
In part, the losses of Amt rican citizens S "
II is most desirable that there shouId no n,
Misunderstanding on this point but inasnoucI
as Mr. Sc ward says that the Government Of ~
United States cannot give any preference IN ~
Alabama claims over Others n regard 10 The fo1S
of arbitTament suggested. you may inform M
Seward that there was no intention on the pal
of her Majesty's Government to give any sue
preference 10 the Alabama claims over claims
IhC Like category,