Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1871-04-16

IASROElcA Rt&Sks "a SCttteBstcmt-hAns
Portant CsnceSsiOAs-The Claims
TO be Audited by IA MIXED Commits.
sion of Five NatiOnaIities.
WASHINGTON, April l5.-It is under
stood that the Joint High Commission
have concluded a convention containing a
basis for settlement of the Alabama
claims. 1t would seem that the questions
for adjustment pending between the
United States and Great Britain are con-
sidered separately, and the plan proposed
for their settlement is to be embodied in
distinct convention and treaties, which of
course are subject, on our side, to the
ratification of the Senate. IT'S SAID the
convention for the settlement of the Ala
bama claims has been signed by all the
Commissioners, and that it is divided into
eight articles substantially as follows:
l. The high contracting parties
agree to be bound in their conduct by the
rule that nation shall be responsible for
depredations committed on a friendly
power by vessel fitted out and manned
at neutral port.
2. The high contracting parties
shall hereafter enforce this rule in their
treaties with all powers, and will cndeavor
to induce the adoption Oi This Iule as a
principlesof internationa! law.
3. The class Of claims known as
the Alabama claims shall be submitted to
a commission to consist Of five members,
one to be appointed 81 The President of
the United States, with The advice and
consent of the United States Senate, one
by the Queen of Great Britain and Ire
LAM, one by the Emperor of Brazil, one
by the President of the Republic of Swift
zerland, and one by the King of Italy.
This Commission shall meet al Washing
ton within six months after the ralifica ion
of this convent Il. The Commissioners
shall decide the responsibility of Great
Britain in each case, and award the dam
ages that may be found If either of the
three last mentioned powers fails 10 appoint
a Commissioner, the vacancy viii be filled
by the King of Sweden and Norway.
4. In case Of vacancy in the Com
mission, the vacancy will be filed in the
same manner rs the original appointment.
5. The members OF the Commission
shall be sworn not to be prejudiced IN
advance, and TO decide each claim on the
evidence pesented to them, being guided,
however, by the rule laid down in the last
article of this convention, namely: That
a nation shall be c-pgLsible for depTeds-
tions committed Oh friendly power by
vessel fitted out and manned at neutral
port. All claims shall be filed with the
Commission within six months after their
meeting, unless good reasons be shown
for delay, in which case the Commission
may extend the time for presenting
claims. A final decision upon all claims
must be made within two years from the
time Of the first meeting of the Commits
sion. All sums of money in payment of
claims are TO be paid in god, at Wash
lngtOn, in such manner as the Commits
sion may direct. No decision of the
Commission shall be binding on either -
the high contracting parties unless agreed
to by one OF the two commissioners rep
resentiag the high contracting parties.
6: This article empowers the Com
mission to employ al the necessary
clerks and assistants; provided, that the
expenses of the Commission shall be
borne equally by the high contracting
parties, and that all bills shall be paid on
vouchers of the Commissioners, and en-
tiers into details with refe enCe TO these
matters.
Z. This article provides that in case
the Commissioners should fail 20 agree
on any specific claim such claim shall be
referred 10 a board Of three memb re, one
to be appointed by the President Of the
United States with the sanction Of the
Senate, one by the Queen of Great Britain
and Ireland, and one by the Emperor Of
Russia This board shall meet at New
York within six months after the adjourn
ment of the other Commission; shall take
testimony at length and decide as to the
facts, amounts due, etc. This provision
is evidently intended to cover doubtful
cases with ref renee 10 which the other
Commissioners have not time to take the
necessary testimony.
s. This last article relates to the
expenses OF the Board last named, and is
similar 10 article six IA IN all essential par
ticulars.
Such, it is said, is the basis of the
agreement that the Joint High Commits
sion has come to for the settlement of
the Alabama claims.
Inter-Thc Above Report Doubtful.
The statement published to-day, pur-
porting to be the basis agreed upon by
the High Commissioners for the settle
ment of the Alabama claims, is viewed
here as erroneous. The expressions of
the members of tine Commission do not
warrant the belief that an agreement will
be reached