Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1872-03-01
The " English Case.o

The following is q synopsis, as received
by cable on the 10th, of the English case
submitted to the Geneva Tribunal. The
document is divided into ten parts:
Part l remarks that no definite or COM
plete statement of American claims has
ever been furnished. The Treaty of
Washington and previous correspondence
will supply, however, a general defini-
ton of the demands made by the United
States, Rule 3 of Article of the Trea-
ty of Washington is quoted as follows
" y neutral Government is bound not to
permit or suffer either belligerent to make
use of its ports or waters as a base of
naval operations against the other, or for
the purpose of renewal or saugmenta-
tion of military supplies, or arms, or re-
cruitment of men.h This rule is inter
preted as prohibiting the supply
of war-waging vessels from neutral
ports, but is not prohibitory of the sale
| OF arms or munitions of war in the or
dinary course of commerce. The claims
submitted are for damages growing out
! OF acts of vessels respecting which the
! United States allege that Great Britain
| failed in her international duty. The
| Tribunal must determine the question of
| failure of duty. If it decides that there
has been such failure, then it must award
a gross sum for damages, or define the
| liability for the guide of the assessors of
said damages. The circumstances of the
sailing of the steamers Alabama, Florida,
Georgia and Shenandoah were materially
dissimilar, but Great Britain maintains
that in respect to none of them has she
failed of her international obligations or
rendered herself justly liable.
Part gives history of the civil war
In the United States, showing that the
course of England and the maritime pow
ers was of vigilant and scrupuious neu-
trality.
Part makes a statement of interna-
tional rights and duties, of the laws of
England bearing thereon, and of the
faithful performance and execution there
OF by Great Britain during the war. 1t
also gives detailed account of the ac-
ton of Minister Adams and Earl Russell,
to prevent the departure of rebel cruis-
ers.
Part shows the limits of the powers
possessed by the British Government to
prevent such departures,
Parts 5, 6, and s, respectively, present
in detail facts relative to the steamers
Florida, Alabama, Georgia and Shenan-
doah.
Part sets forth that the steamers
Georgia and Shenandoah were never
equipped for war in the British Domin-
ions, Her Majesty's Government was
only informed respecting these vessels
after their departure. The Alabama and |
Florida, even, did not receive their arma- !
ments in British waters The peculiar |
circumstances of the Alabama's escape |
are recited, and England's vigilant en-
deavor to prevent her sailing, as well as |
Americas failure in the attempt to cap |
ture her, are insisted on.
Part 10 complains Of the disadvantage |
under which Great Britain labors in meet |
ing an unpresented case.
The document concludes as follows:
while England regrets the departure |
of rebel cruisers from her ports, she can
not acknowledge the justice of the claims
against her for pecuniary damages for |
their acts The United States must solid
ly establish the facts of Englands negli.
gence. England is ready to accept the
award of the Tribunal of Arbitration,
whether favorable or unfavorable. She
desires only that it shall be just"
&S$
1t appears from official documents
that the number of steamers on the At
lantic coast inspected in 1871 was 1,410
The value of property destroyed by fire,
explosion, collision and wreck, was ST.
1924, ,OO0 lives lost, $40; number of steam
ers inspected in water flowing into the
a NaulE 80 n A