Semi-weekly Louisianian. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1871-1872, 1871-05-21
THE ALABAMA TREATY.

The Commissioners have been cautious
in talking to persons outside their own
circle, the following points will be found
correct. First, there are two boards of
arbitration or commissioners. To one
will be referred the Alabama and other
similar claims, which are recognized to
be national, and to be settled on the
principle of responsibility for such depre-
dations where the government has not
exercised the utmost diligence and pos
sible precaution to prevent cruisers being
fitted out in its ports to prey upon the
commerce of power with whom it was
at peace. The other board is to take
cognizance of other claims British and
American, confined principally to periods
from the commencement to the close OF
our late civil war.
From the character of the documents
accompanying the treaty, it is inferred
that the decision cannot fail to be in favor
of the United States. The treaty provides
for the free navigation of the st. Law
renee by vessels of the United States and
for the use of the Canadian canals on the
payment of regular tolls. There are also
provisions regulating the privilege of
fishing in Canadian waters, but these
have not been ascertained with sufficient
accuracy to justify a statement OF them.
The London Times to-day mistakes in
saying that the treaty must be ratified
by both houses Of Parliament, though it
will require legislation to carry some of
its provisions into effect Among these
are the st. Albans claims and for dam
ages to property in the Fenian invasions
on Canada are to be admitted. AS to
the claims of British subjects for the
seizure of their cotton, Great Britain, by
the mouth of its Commissioners, does
not recognize them in case that such
subjects took up their domicile in the
South, thereby they subjected themselves
to all the risks and contingencies of war.
All legitimate claims for cotton will be
considered; these will not probably
amount to q million dollars. There will
be no difficulty in ascertaining all the
particulars, as the Department has a !
the dates of all seizures of cotton and the
owners names thereof, and the Govern
ment is aware that q full list of the
British claims was published in that
country, but it has also information that
many have been adjusted, while others
will not come within the provisions of
the treaty. There are other claims be-
lore this second board, including one of
our own government growing out of the
purchase of saltpetre in East India
during the war, which was seized by
the British authorities The San Juan
question will be referred to the arbritra-
ton of a friendly sovereign, probably the
Emperor of Brazil.
This tribunal may either award dam
ages in detail or in gross at its discretion,
or it may refer this duty to Board Of
Assessors sitting in the United States,
who also shall report from time to time,
with payment to be made accordin yly.
The British Government frankly ex-
presses regrets for the occurrence of the
Incidents complained of by the United
States For adjudication of all other
claims of citizens of the United States
against Great Britain, and citizens of
Great Britain against the United States
during the same period, that is from the
18th of April 1861, to the 9th of April
1865, an ordinary mixed commission is
provided to act at Washington, with an
umpire to be nominated, if necessary, by
a designated friendly Power. This limit
alton of time is material and in substance,
for it confines reclamation against the
United States to the incident of actual
war. It is accompanied also with
declaration on the part of the British
Commissioners to the effect of excluding
claims on account Of slave property.
The same authority states that the
following is to appear to-day az author
itative, in the National Republican at
Washington:
"The official statement Of the result of
the labors of the Joint High Commission.
this treaty is to be known as the The
treaty of Washington for the adjustment
of claims or injury alleged by the United
States on account of the escape OF Con-
ferate cruisers from British ports, and
depredations committed by those vessels
during the late rebellion in this country
Tribunal arbitration is constituted to
consist of five arbitrators, one appointed
by the United States, one by Great
Britain, and the other three each by
designated Sovereign States of Europe.
As the American treaty establishes spe-
cial rules of neutral's duty and obligations
in addition to the generally received