Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1871-12-22
The WASHINGTON Treaty.

The arbitrators, under the Treaty Of Wash
ington, appointed for the consideration Of the
respective clsims Of Great Britain and the
Unitei States, met Friday at the Hotel Dc Vile,
Geneva. The tribunal is composed of men the
most eminent in lsE and politics. Hon Charles
Francis Adams represents the United States, and
Chief Justice Alexander Cockburn, Grea; Britain.
The King of Italy has nsmed Count Scopis. an
eminent jurist and Jacob Estsmpfi, an able
statesman Of Switzerland, hiss been named By
/ the President Of the Swiss Convention Baron de
/ ltsiubs, Envoy Extraordinary and Minister
Pleuipotentiary Of Brazil st Paris, is the srbi
traitor appointed by the Emperor of Brazil The
labor before them is immen,e The case Of the
United States, prepared by Mr. Bancroft Davis
and revised by Judge Hosr, r. II, Dana, IT., and
others, is alone said to form a volume Of five /
hundred pages. This is supported by seven |
large volumes Of documentary evidence and |
matter bearing on the case. In these are 10 be
found; The diplomatic correspondence on Rebel
beilgerency snd English neutrality laws
the correspondence about rebel operations
IN Canada /; vessels Of British build in the
service OF the Rebels correspondence respect
ing the Alabsms. the Tallshassee and
Shenandoah negotiations concerning claims
pr0clsmations and declarations Of powers other
than Crest British. issued subsequently, to the
Queens proclamation of neutrality the Journal
Of the Alabama, and an account Of her destruc-
ton by the kearsarge the correspondence of
the British government with the Lairds IN
reference to their iron-clads; the correspondence
Of Gen. Grants administration with the English
government, aud the documents relating to the
new treaty history of our neutrality laws; !
the new British foreign enlistment act; and cur
claims for damages. The claims of the govern
meat for actual dsmsges amount to S7,OS0, AS
10. The claims for constructive damages, by H.
jury to commerce in the transfer Of our mer-
camille marine TO foreigners, the rise of in
sursnce premiums and national expenditures
in pursuit of rebel cruisers the pro-
lOngstion CT the war, and for loss of public z
vessels, cargoes, etc, will add greatly to the
amount. These latter claims are to be urged y
strongly by the counsel for the United States }
Nessrs. Cushing. Evarts and Waite. Concern q .,
ng them the principal struggle is expected. u
They represent such an enormous money value u
hat it s expected by many parties, and espec- u
ally the enemies Of the treaty, that their allow u
nee will be stouty resisted. The private
laims for damages presented, and forming part
f the volume Of claims, amount to Sl4 600
90. ye
Through all thiu mass Of evidence and list of ia
laims, printed in various languages it will be ,r
ecesssry for the tribunal to toll. The work
oImenced in earnest on Monday. Its progress vi
I'LL be watched with the most intense interest pr
iroughout the world, and it will decide ques- pr
ons not only for the United States and Great =.
ritain. but will establish precedents that will u''
ave an important bearing upon future interna- We
ousl controversies wi