Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-02-17
THE ALABAMA CLAIMS.
English Statement Of the Case
Before the Genera Board.

LONDON, Feb. 16.-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 Par
lament, and is published. The document
IS divided into ten parts. Part one remarks
that no definite or complete statement of
the American claims has ever been furnish
ed. The treaty of Washington and pre-
vious correspondence viii supply, however,
! a general definition of the demands made
by the United States. Rule 2, Art. 6 of
the treaty of Washington is quoted as fol-
lows:
"a neutral government is bound not to
permit or suffer either belligerent to make
use of its ports or waters as a base of naval
operations against the other, or for a pur-
pose of renewal or augmentation of mill
tary supplies or arms or the recruitment of
men,"
This rule Is Interpreted as prohibiting the
supply Of war waging vessels from neutral
ports, but is not prohibitory of the sale Of
arms or munitions Of war in the ordinary
course of commerce.
The tribunal must determine the
question of the failure of duty. If it de-
cides that there has been such failure,
then it must award gross sum for DANA
ges or define a limit Of liability for the
guidance of the assessors of said damages.
The circumstances of the sailing Of the
steamers Alabama, Florida, Georgia and
Shenandoah were materially dissimilar, but
Great Britain maintains that in respect to
none of them has she failed of her interna-
tional obligations or rendered herself justly
liable.
Part 2 gives history of the civil war in
the United States, showing that the course
Of England and the maritime powers was
one of vigilsnt and scrupulous neutrality.
Part 8 makes statement Of the interna-
tional rights and duties, of the laws Of Eng
land bearing thereon, and Of the faithful
performance and execution thereof by
Great Britain during the war. 1t also gives
a detailed account Of the action of Minister
Adams and Earl Russell to prevent the de-
parture Of the rebel cruisers.
Part 4 shows the limits Of the powers
possessed by the British Government to
prevent such departures.
Parts 5, 6, 7 and 8 respectively present in
detail the facts relative to the steamers
Florida, Alabama, Georgia and Shenandoah.
Part sets forth that the steamers
Georgia and Shenandoah were never equip
ped for war in the British DominiOns.
Her Majesty's Government vas only in
formed respecting these vessels after their
departure. The Alabama and Florida even
did not receive their armsmentS in the
British DOminions. The peculiar circUm-
stances of the Alabama's escape are recited,
and England's vigilant endeavors to prevent
her sailing, as well as Americas failure in
the attempt to capture her, are insisted on.
Part 10-Complains of the disadvantages
under which Great Britain labors in meet
ing Americas unprecedented case. The
document concludes as follows:
'While England regrets the departure of
the rebel cruisers from her parts, she can
not acknowledge the justice of the claims
against her for pecuniary damages for the
acts. The United States must solidly establish
the fact of England's negligence. England
is willing to accept the award of the tribun-
al of arbitration whether favorable or I'M
favorable. She desires only that it shall be
just"
In the Commons.
In the House of Commons to-day Mr..
Disraeli enquired whether any answer to
Mr.. Granville's note concerning the Ala
bama claims had been received. Mr.. Glad
stone replied that nothing official has been
received by Her Msjesty'S government, but
United States Minister Schenck thought the
reply of his government would reach Lon
don about the first of March.