Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1872-05-02
THE ALABAMA CLAIMS.
The Counter Case Presented by Grca
Britain.

The Counter Case Presented by Great
Britain.
The following is synopsis of the
counter case presented at Geneva by
the agent of Great Britain:
Part one begins by announcing that
to all American imputations of hostile
motives and insincere neutrality, no
reply whatever will be offered. Eng
land distinctly refuses to enter into a
discussion of such insinuations, because
it would be inconsistent with the self
respect, irrelevant to the main issue,
and tend to inhame the controversy.
/ England s governing desire is to fulfill,
even exceed, her international duties
Nor will any reference be made to the
claims for indirect damages, as CORE
/ spondence with regard to them is pend.
ing between England and the United
States. England assumes that the
claims are limited to losses accustomed
/ by the Florida, Alabama, Georgia and
/ Shenandoah, but does not object to the
/ introduction of the names of the other
rebel cruisers added to the list by the
/ American case. She calls attention to
/ the fact that none of these vessels had
/ previously been mentioned No award
/ is possible for the dcpredations of the
| Boston and Sallie, which are in the list,
I but not mentioned elsewhere III the
/ United States, and were probably mad
vertently included. The Board of Ar
/ bitration is reminded that its conclu-
sions must be formed on proofs, not
allegations, and the evidence must be
I.tf .,t, .. 400,
/ Consuls are creditable when made with
regard to facts within their personal
| knowledge, but they are unreliable
when dealing with rumors The Con
suls of the American Government zeal.
GUS TO iudiscretion, shared the lrrella-
bility generated by the war, and errone,
Gus views throughout the struggle, col
ored their reports. England rejects as
evidence the papers captured on the
1 Richmond, their authors being I'M
/ known.
Part two deals with the American ar
Gument. 1t disputes the proposition
that neutral power Is bound, at the
request of u belhgerent, to enforce its
municipal laws and add to them if they
are insufficient 1t admits that repara-
ton is due for an appreclable injury
resulting from clear violation of in
temational duty, but is unable to at
tach distinct meaning to some of the
twelve propositions of The American
case, and demurs to the exceptionally
ugorodS application made of the prop
ositious to England. 1t urges that at
the time of the Confederate war the
mere sale and delivery of vessel
adapted for war to belligereuts was not
a violation of neutrality. Nevertheless,
on this point it accepts the rules of the
Treaty OF Washington. with the over
strained construction put upon them
by the Governments of the United States,
but according to their obvious purport,
1t regrets that the United States should
see tit to strain the Interpretation of
these rules to the uttcrmost estimate
of occupying them in fair and rea
sonahle issue 1t argues that England
was bound 10 receive the Alabama as
she would a vessel of wGr of any soy
eregn state, and concludes by quoting
from Ortolau, the eminent French aU-
/ thorltv on International law, to show
that the principles tor which the United
States contend were never heretofore
seriously asserted or recognized in
England or America.
Part three treats of the presidents
adduced in the American case. and re-
plies thereto with others. such rs the
dllbuStemug attacks of Lopez on Cuba.
and Walker on Mexico and Central
America, and the Fenian aids on Can
ada. History ON this subject is the
history OF unlawful enterp ises origin
atlng IN America, and, VITA American
citizens. American privateers have from
time 10 time hauaSsed England. Spain,
Portugal Mexico, Central America.
Cuba and Canada
Part four considers the various COM
plants made Of traffic in muuition OF
war with the south, blockade running
by British ships, etc.
Part five gives a history of the cruis-
ers Sumpter and Nashville, and COM
plants OF being required to meet de
mauds in regard to which the sole dit
ticulty j. to treat them rs serious.
Part six gives an account OF the
Florida aud Alabama, with the details
OF their escape HI seeks Us SHOW that
The time winch elapsed between MIR
Adam S application anU tile ,.AlaNamE' S
departure Na> toa sGart ta S.>ttv tine
N..ll- ST Il .L.t. G#N-, &H l 3~ l.