Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1872-02-21
The Alabama Claims Question.

The case submitted to the Geneva
Board of Arbitration by the Counsel of
Great Britain in regard to the Alabama
claims has been laid before Parliament
and is published The document IS
divided into ten parts:
Part | remarks that no definite or
complete statement of American claims
has ever b en- furnished The treaty
of Washington and previous cores
pondence will supply, however, a gen.
eral definition of the demands made by
the United States 2, of Article 6 of
the Treaty Of Washington is quoted as
follows "A neutral Government is
bound not to permit or suffer either
beligerent to make use of its ports or
waters as Ease Of naval operations
against the other or for the purpose of
a renewal or augmentation of military
supplies, or arms, or recruitment Of
men," This rule is interpreted as pro-
hibiting the supply of war-waging
vessels from neutral ports, but is not
prohibitory of the sale of arms or mu-
nitlons of war In the ordinary course of
commerce. The claims submitted are
for damages growing out of acts of yes,
sells respecting which the United States
aliege that Great Britain failed in her
international duty. The Tribunal
must determine the question Of failure
of duty. If it decides that there has
been such a failure. then it must award
gross sum for damages. or define the
liability for the guide or the assessors
OF said damages. The circumstances
OF the sailing of the steamers Alabama,
Florida, Georgia, and Shenandoah
were materially dissimilier, but Great
Britain maintains that in respect to
none Of them has she failed Of her in
ternational obligations or rendered her
self justly liable.
Part 2 gives a history of the civil
war in the United States, showing that
the course of England and the mari
time powers was of vigilant and scru
pulous neutrality.
Part 3 makes statement of inter-
national rights and duties, Of the laws
of England bearing thereon, and Of the
faithful performance and execution
thereof of Great Britain during the
war. 1t also gives a detailed account
of the action of Minister Adams and
Earl Russell, to prevent the departure
of rebel cruisers
Part 4 shows the limits of the powers
possessed by the British Government
to prevent such departures.
Parts 5, 6, I, and s, respectively,
present in detail facts relative to the
steamers Florida, Alabama, Georgia,
and Shenandoah.
Part 9 sets forth that the steamers
Georgia and Shenandoah were never
equipped for war in the British Dom
inions. Her Majesty's Government was
only informed respecting these vessels
after their departure. The Alabama
aud Florida even did not receive their
ornaments in British waters. The pc
culiar circumstances of the Alabama's
escape are recited, and England's Wig
liant endeavor to prevent her sailing,
as well as Americas failure in the at
tempt to capture her, are insisted on.
Part 10 complains ofthe disadvantage
under which Great Britain labors in
meeting an unpresented case.
The document concludes as follows
While England regrets the depart:
IRE of rebel cruisers from her ports,
she cannot acknowledge the justice of
the claims against her for pecuniary
damages tor their acts. The United
States must solidly establish the facts
Of England's negligence. England is
ready to accept the award of the Trib-
unal of Arbitration, whether favorable
or unfavorable' She desires only that
it shall be just"