New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-10-05
THE. GENEVA ARBITRATION.

GENEVA, Sept. 14.-The Treaty of Washing
provided that the Tribunal should, II possible rem
der Its Judgment within three months from the closing
arguments. that is 10 say-the 18th Of September The
arbtraors improved these instructions by one day.
the 18th being Sunday, and national fast In Swzer
land Careful interpreters OF the Treaty. they persisted
in observing the limits OF trial suggested by that
famous compact At the session OF last Monday It
voted that the Board should sit Saturday with open
doors. This meant that the Arbtraors might invite
their friends sit In the council chamber. hear the de-
cson read and four representative men afx their
signatures ~ historic paper AT first 1t was Intended
to weed out the journalists aud bar the gates to them
but tho plan worked badly Finally the doors were
opened and miscellaneous party including men whose
connection with newspapers goes farther than the
subscription list, filed up the attractive little hall
The representatives Of all nations were there Count
sclopis and the Countess Madame the Baroness OF
dItauba the families OF Mr. Adams and Mr. Davis, the
American Consul the members OF the Conseil dEtat In
full Dress and various other dignarcs still larger
throng OF unofficial visitors toed up the steep hill only
to be repulsed by the memorable usher
The Arbrators promptlyn their seats, with the
exception OF the ChiefJustce, who came in 10 minutes
late. Lord Tenterden still later 1t has been re-
marked that the English representatives are nearly
always the arrive. In general this Is inexeusabe
but it was generally agreed to-day that their tardlness
easily explained the promptness OF the Ameri
cans. Mr. Eyarts and Gen. Cushing were in their
places Mr.. Waite had left the city. Mr. Eyarts pored
the printed copy Of the verdict while Gen. Cushing
gossped with the ladies. At about l o'clock Count
Scops called the members order and pronounced the
session be opened. The protocol OF the preceding
session was read and duly approved Then the secre-
ary to read the final decision OF the Board
Mr. Fayrot understands English we'll but speaks 1t with
marked accent. He stood under painting which rep
resents q woman holding Swiss flag, the Significant
White Cross Of the Alps, and read amid profound
silence the part OF the little auditory The decision
was Unexpectedly brief and concise. 1t contains only
general conclusions, without any indication OF the
procedure by which each was reached The reading
occupied about ten minutes.
During the reading OF the decision the attention OF the
curious was closely fixed ChefJustice Coek0urn.
He erouched down in his chair, nearly hid behind an
enormous pile OF manuscript which, without exaggera
tion was five inches thick When his affirmative vote
OH the OF the Alabama announced the specta-
tors began hope that ho might show similar degree
of independence in the other cases. But this hope was
disappointed. The solitary "No" in the case OF the
Florida HIS; OF the "Noes in the case OF the
Shenandoah his the other being that OF Vscount
dIajuba. 3d. the reading proceeded and the spect
tors showed their satisfaction, the ChiefJusc became
more and nervous, and attracted more and more
the attention Of his friends Scarcely the ceremony
finished when he began: "kr. President: Not being
able to agree to-" when Count Selopis impauenty
begged him TO wait. After other formaites had been
competed the President settled back in his seat
and mooned for the venerable urst to proceed 80 ne
renewed the attempt, this time with success
"Mr President Not being able to agree to the conclu
sons expressed the decision OF the Tribunal nave
prepared paper which expresses my individual views.
ask that 1t be annexed to the protocols OF the Tribunal
and printed Herewith" No objection was made. On
the contrary there heard general sign Oh renet
from those who had been regarding with alarm the
bulky document which hid tho speaker. The sun was
very hot and audience in no temper TOT dls-
senting opinions study but little less interesting
was Afforded by the other British representatives Sir
iounde Palmer, tho losing attorney, OF course elt
nis defeat keenly and did not attempt TO hide his
ehagrn Lord Tenterlen wrote busy just as Mr. Conk-
ling writes in the Senate Mr. SchurZ ashes his ar
rogance.
After the reading was finished the Secretary presented
the document for signature II had been previously
printed unociay, but the official copies were nney en-
crossed on parchment and decorated with inexpensive
and neutral ribbons There were three duplicate copes
In accordance with the terms Of the Treaty. one was Tor
the agent OF Her Majesty and one for the agent OF
tho United States The third copy prepared at the
instance OF the Tribunal TO bs deposited among the
archives OF the government OF Geneva. Mr.. Adams
signed first, I'm his usual dignhed manner and with
carefully finished hand. Count Sclopis, who Followed was
moro nervous and spread his name In black ink over
half tl,e line. Then came NJ Stamph the bluff swzer.
who wrote his name in exactly two seconds, and VS.
count dItauba, who has a dlettantl manner ana a
delicate chirography The Lord ChiefJustce watched
the proceeding with some embarrassment. The two
agents were then called up receive each his copy Of
the decision, the third copy was handed to the Pres-
dent OF the Conseil d'Etat, and the work was done
At this point Sir Alexander COckburn rose to explain
his refusal sign the Judgment or rather TO state that
HIS reasons might hereafter be sought in some two thou
sand pages Of octave argument. Nothing now remained
but the adopon OF the last protocol ana the adjourn
ment The protocol simply recorded the proceedings
which desorlbed and as Their order had been pre-
arranged the protocol itself had been printed in advance
The President Count Sclopis closed the session In an
other of his neat little speeches. lie briefly alluded to
the nature OF the dispute which had called the Arolta
tors together and OF the difficulty OF their task 1t
would NJ least be one Of their merits that they had not
boen idle or tho relations between the MEM
bers of the court all could speak with pleasure Moth
ing had occurred TO the friendly character or
the deliberations The highest eulogy that could be paid
10 themselves was paid by the governments when
named them for their responsible posts He would
saw nothing about the decision which had just been rem
dared II speaks for ITSELF But he felt that each
and every Arbitrator would away with him the
approval OF his conscience ana the cOnvic-
tion that he had not unworthily aided IN
Great political experiment. With few words
~ commitment for the agents and the counsel
as well as for Geneva the worthy President finished his
remarks and declared the Tribunal OF Arbitration for
malIv dissolved As soon he sat down battery OF
artillery, which had been provided by the thoushtfui
Gepeyese beloved out hoaIse salute OF p guns the
number OF Cantons in Switzerland. The old Hotel de
Vile shook under the heavy yoeys, but the compliment
was heartily appreciated by all After general ex-
change OF congratulations the party broke up and at
oeoek the concierge undsputed master OF the va
cant chambers.
THE MEANING OF THE JUDGMENT OF THE
GENEVA ARBITRATION.
POINTS OF LAW INvOLvED-THE QUESTION OF
DIE DIIIGENCE-THE SUBJECT OF INDEMNITY.