The New York herald., 1872-09-16

government III CQlS UlreCtlOu
The Geneva Settlement of Our Alabama
Claims-Tho Washington Treaty.
We published yesterday, by special de-
spatches from Geneva, copious reports, in
cluding the text of the decision of the Geneva
Tribunal of Arbitration on our Alabama
claims. The essential points of the decision,
in few words, are these: First that accord
ing to the rules of neutrality in the premises
laid down in the Treaty of Washington, ''the
British government failed to use due dill
gence in the performance of its neutral obliga-
tons in reference to the Anglo-rebel cruiser,
the Alabama, and that said government ''can-
not justify itself for its failure in due dill
gence on the plea of the insuficiency of the
legal means of action it possessed" Second,
that In the case of the Confederate cruiser,
the Florida, "Her Majesty's government failed
to use due diligence to fulfil its duties Of neu-
trality;" and that, in regard to said Cruiser a.
Nassau, N. p, 'there was negligence on the
part of the British colonial authorities which
cannot be excused. Third, that in regard to
the Shenandoah, while in the Brit
ish colonial port of Melbourne, Aus
tralia, ''and especially by the aug
mentation which England admits to have
been clandestinely effected in her force of men
by enlistments at that port, that there was
negligence on the part Of the British authori-
ties at that place." Fourth, that 'the Tusca-
loosa, the Clarence and Tacony, as aiders or
tenders to the Alabama and Florida, must fol-
low the lot of their principals and submit to
the same decision
These are the Confederate cruisers whose
acts, under certain specifications, against our
commerce, under British negligence and
failures in the obligations of neutrality during
our late civil war, are condemned. On the
other hand, in relation to the Georgia,
Sumter, Nashville, Tallahassee and Chicka-
mauga, the Court unanimously acquits Great
Britain on the charge of failure in her neutral
duties; and the cases Of the Sallie, JEFF Davis,
Music, Boston and Joy were excluded from
consideration" The gross amount of the in
demnlty awarded for the damages indicated is
three million two hundred and fifty thousand
pounds sterling, in gold; and this is the
ridiculous little mouse of which the great
mountain from its terrible labor has been de-
livered.
money, those three rules of neutrality on which
this indemnify has been awarded. And what
are they? They ore that neutral govern
ment is bound to use due diligence to prevent
the fitting out, arming or equipping within its
jurisdiction, or the departure, &C., of any ves-
sci which it has reason to believe is intended
for war against Power with which it is at
peace. Secondly, not to permit or suffer
either belligerent to use its ports or waters for
warlike purposes against each other or for pro-
curing warlike supplies or recruits. Thirdly,
to exercise due diligence in its own ports and
waters and as to oil persons within its juris-
diction, to prevent any violation of the fore
going obligations and duties. These are the
three rules of neutrality upon which these Ala
bama claims have been settled, and these rules
have been blown to the world as o wonderful
concession from England for the sake of peace.
In the next war of England, however, with a
Power with which We are at peace, these rules
may prove q bad bargain for the United
States. In this view our neutrality for the
future under these rules has been cheaply pur-
chased by England.
Well, we have only now to close up some
little formalities with the New Dominion
in reference to the reciprocities agreed
upon in the matter of the North
eastern fisheries and the navigation OF
the st. Lawrence and its canals, and the Sauli
Ste. Marie canal and Lake Michigan, and to gel
the decision of the Emperor of Germany on
our Northwestern boundary dispute, in order
to proclaim complete settlement Of oil the
questions involved in the arbitrations and re-
ciprocities of the Washington Treaty. But the
Geneva Tribunal and its decision upon thu
main question of the Alabama claims is, a'
best, only the old story Of the mountain and
| the mouse