The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1872-05-01
The Geneva Board.

Synopsis Of tho Counter Case of
Great Britain.
Tho following is q synopsis of
the counter statement presented
at Geneva on tho part of Great
Britain
Part first begins by announcing
that to the American imputation
OF hostile motives and insiuccre
neutrality no reply whatever will
be offered. England distinctly re-
fuses TO enter into q discussion of
those insinuations, because it would
DO inconsistent with her sclfrc-
spcct, irrclcvcnt to the main issue
and tend to innamc controversy.
England's governing desire is to
fulfil, even exceed her intorna-
tlonal duties. Nor will any rcfe-
! renee be made to tho claims for
indirect damages, rs corrcspon-
dcnco with regard to them is pend
ing between England and the Uni
ted States. England assumes that
the claims arc limited to losses by
the Alabama, Florida, Georgia
and Shenandoah, but does not Oh.
Jcct Of the introduction OF nine
other rebel cruisers added to the
list. Mono Of these vessels had
previously been mentioned. No
award is possible for the doproda-
tons Of tho Boston and SaIlic,
which arc in tho list not men.
toned elsewhere in the case Of
the United States, and wcr, pro-
badly inadvertently included. The
board Of arbitra:ors is reminded
that It's conclusions must be formed
on proois,not allegations, and that
the evidence must be sirtcd. The
statements Of American consuls
aro credible when made in regard
TO facts within their personal
knowledge but they arc unrcia-
ble when dealing with rumors.-
The consuls Of the American Gov,
cnt, Jealous to indiscrction,
shared tho irritabiIity generated
by tho war, and erroneous views
throughout the struggle coIorod
their reports. England rejects as
evidence tho papers captured on
tho Rosamond, their authors bo-
ing unknown.
Part second deals with thcAmo-
rican argument, disputes tho pro
positions that n ncutrul power is
bound, at tho request Of a bcligo-
rant, to enforce tho municipal
laws and add to thom if they arc
insufficient. It admits that repa-
ration is duo for appreciablo in iu-
ry resulting from " clear viola.
ton Of international duty, but is
unable TO attach distinct meaning
TO some Of the twelve PROPOSE
tons Of the American case, and
demurs to tho exceptionally rigo.
rous application made Of these
propositions to England. 1t urges
that at tho time Of tho Confcdc-
rate war the nero sale and dcllv-
cry of vessel adapted for war to
a bcligcrant was not q violation of
the treaty. Nevertheless, on this
point it accepts tho rules Of the
Treaty Of Washington, not with
| tho oVcr-strainod construction put
upon them by the United States,
but according to their obvious pur-
port. 1t regrets that the United
States should strain tho intcrprc-
tation OF these rules to the utter
most, instead Of accepting them in
u fair and reasonable sense. 1t
argues that England was bound
to receive tho Alabama as she
would u vessel Of war Of any SOY
crcign power, and concludes by
quoting from Ortolan, the emi-
ncnt French authority on inter
national law, to show that the
principles for which tho United
States contend wcro never before
seriously asserted or recognized
IN Europe or America.
Part third treats Of tho prccc-
dents advanced in the American
case, and replies thereto with
others such as tho fiIlibustcring e
attacks Of Lopez on Cuba, and
Walker on Mexico and Central
America, and tho Fcnian raids on
Canada. History on this subject
is the history Of unlawful enter
priscs originating in America, and
with American citizens. ThcAmc-
rican privateors have from timo to
time harrasscd England, Spain,
Portugal, Mexico, Central Amcri-
ca, Cuba and Canada.
Part fourth considers tho va
rious complaints made Of traffic in
munitions Of war with tho South,
blockade running by British ships,
&c.
Part fifth gives the history of
tho cruises Of the Sumter and
Nashville, and complains Of boing
required to meet demands in re-
! gard TO which the sole difficulty
is to treat them as serious.
Part sixth gives an account of
the Florida and Alabama, with
details Of their escape. IT. seeks
to show that the timo which
elapsed between Mr.. Adams ap-
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