The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-02-17
Claim of Observance of Inter-
national Fidelity.
Acknowledgment of Liability to
Pay and the Desirabiity
of Fixed Sum.
Mr.. Fish's Reply to Granville Looked for
Anxously in London.
IELeGaAMS 10 THE NEW YORK HERALD.


The case submitted to the Geneva Board Of Arbl-
tration by the counsel Great Britain regard to
the Alabama claims has been laid before Parliament
and Is published. The document Is divided into ten
parts
PART L-RemarKs that no definite or complete
statement OF the American claims has ever been
furnished. The Treaty of Washington ana previous
correspondence will supply however, a general
definition OF the demands made by the United
States
Rule 2 Of article OF the Treaty OF Washington is
quoted as fOllows-"A neutral government is
bound not to permit or suffer either begerent TO
make use Of its ports or waters as base of naval
operations against the other, for the purpose OF
the renewal or augmentation Of military supplies
or arms or the recruitment Of men,"
This rule interpreted as prohibiting the supply
of war-waging vessels from neutral ports, but as
not prOhbitory OF the sale OF arms munitions Of
war in the ordinary course OF commerce.
The claims submitted are for damages growing
out OF the acts Of vessels, respecting which the
United States aege that great Great Britain failed
mine the question Of failure Of duty. II 1t decides
that there has been such failure then 1t must award
o gross sum for damages define the limit OF
liability for the guidance Of the assessors of said
damages.
The circumstances Of the sailing OF the steamers
Alabama, Florida, Georgia ana Shenandoah we're
materially dissimlar; but Great Britain maintains
that in respect to them has she failed Of
international obligations, rendered herself justly
liable.
PART IL gives history Of the civil war in the
United States showing that the course OF England
| and the maritime Powers was one Of vigllant and
| scrupulous neutrality.
| PART III. makes a statement Of international
rights and duties, Of the laws Of England bearing
thereon, and of the faithful performance ana execu-
ton thereof by Great Britain during the war.
| 1t also gives a detailed account OF the action Of
Minister Adams and Earl Russell 10 prevent the
| departure OF the rebel cruisers.
| PART Nv. shows the limits OF the powers pos.
sessed by the British government to prevent such
departures.
fAhiS ", Ni.' NAl anu Nlli., respectively, pre-
sent in detail the facts relative to the steamers
Florida, Alabama, Georgia ana Shenandoah.
PART TX. sets forth that the steamers Georgia
and Shenandoah were never equipped for war in the
British dominlons Her Majesty's government was
only informed respecting these vessels after their
departure The Alabama ana Florida even did not
receive their ornaments in British dominions
The peculiar circumstances Of the Alabama,s
escape are recited and Englaud's vigilant endea-
vOrs TO prevent her sailing, as well as Americas
failure in the attempt to capture her, are insisted
upon.
PART X. complains Of Disadvantages under
which Great Britain labors in meeting an unpre.
sented case.
The document concludes follows - "whle
England regrets the departure Of rebel cruisers
from her ports, she cannot acknowledge the justice
OF the claims against her for pecuniary damages for
their acts The United States must solidly establish
the fact of Englands negligence. England Is ready
to accept the award Of the Tribunal of Arbitration
whether favorable unfavorable She desires only
that it shall be Justn
III