The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-01-05
ENGLAND.
The Alabama Arbitration Commission Of Eng
land and America at Geneva.

FROM the London Times, Dec 1911
Geographic message from Switzerland Informs
US that the Alabama Arbitration Commission held
lis rst sitting yesterday. The agency, therefore,
ut length at WORK which is destlned to settle Of
the most controverted and most perlOus interna-
tional questions OF modern times. Together with
Washington 1t VIII ''fnally settle, bar and render
inadmisslble for the future the claims OF the two
governments and OF their subjects upon each other
arising out OF the events OF the American civil war;
The washington Treaty provides in fact, for the ar
Management OF every existing dispute between the two
nations but II Is for its ARRANGEMENT OF these ex.
ceplonal claims that 1t Will be chiefly remembered
or these the so-called alabama Cla;ms' are. OF
cislons on points OF international conduct which
must become precedents OF grave import. The
comparatively simple task Of adiudcatlng upon
claims on the part OF corporations, companies, or
Mns a nSsr s against either tent
practice Of public Jaw. The simple agency Of three
o oSs ny one appointed BY the Queen
Queen and President conformity, was deemed
suttcientsfor this latter purpose. These Commits
reported nave already held several sessions, and
twenty claims have been already presented By Inc
hands about 1900 more wnile very lew claims OF
Americans against England have vet been nut in
the hands OF the American agent In fact. British
merchants suffered grlevous damage during the
course OF the blockade. while the injury inflicted
on the commerce Of the United States was due nj.
| most entirely TO those Confederate cruisers wnose
acts are referred to the Geneva COMMISSION Under
our e1 avo e oIa Woa 81 % Is likely
any contrary conjecture respecting the issue of the
| more important arbitration.
The meeting held yesterday by this Commission
was, as we announced the other day, purely formal
but 1t no doubt supplies what called in the treaty
| "thc organization OF the tribunal and although
the season OF the year was in0pportune for pass.
Ing visit to city with an ungenlal climate the time
had come when, II the stipuati0ns OF the treaty
were 10 be adhered TO- It was necessary the tribunal
should pe IN some way formally constituted. IL is
provided that the formal statement OF the case OF
each party shall be delivered In duplicate TO each of
tie arbtfators and 10 the agent OF the other party
'as soon as may be after The organization OF the
tribunal, Dut within period not exceeding six
months from the date oil the exchange OF the rati1
| cations OF the treaty." The Publications were OK.
changed In London on the l7tn OF last June
ana IL was consequently necessary that the arbl.
tfatofs shoud now be In position TO receive these
statements According 10 this clause In the treaty
| we may presume tnat the respective statements
mems have now been prepared, and that the case
Of eacn country has been cast Into the form under
wnlcn II must finally be argued. 10 will be remem-
bcred that on our side this task was entrusted to
tho LORD chancellor, assisted by Lord Tenterden
and Professor Bernard The duty was momentous
one ana must nave been rendered all the more DIFF.
ncult Dy Inc Tact that the Chancellor would be
Obliged, 10 some extent, to present his case on
grounds differing from those which nave been
SO cxhaustivey surveyed by former apollo.
gists OF this country. The British government II
VIII be remembered, has agreed that Its liability
shall be determined by the application Of three new
Tpes VI leIlGii0lal conduct, when, ~ Nv the eame