The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-03-22
THE BRITISH PARLIAMENT
The Geneva Arbitration and Its Principle Of
Maritime Law Under Debate.
The Three Rules Eliminated from the Treaty Of
washington-What Is Feared from Their
Operation Defence Of the
Tribunal Conclusion Diraelis idea,
TElEeRAm TO TIVE NEW YORK HERALD.

TElEefAm TO THE NEW YORK HERALD
| LONDON March 81, 1873.
| In the House of Commons this evening the Right
Hon. Claiborne Hardy moved an address to the
| Crown, praying that the government be In
sructed to dissent from the three international
rules adopted by the Court of Arbitration at
| Geneva.
| Mr. Hardy, in the course Of an able speech in
support OF his motion, declared that in making 1t
he had no party object in view, did he intend
to cast the slightest mputation the fairness Of
| the arbitrators. The disclaimer was received
| with cheers.
Right Hon. Mr. Forster opposed the notion
because 1t practically called for vote OF censure
| on the arbitrators who adopted the rules. These
rules affected the United States as much as they
| did England. No other nation was interested. II
England objects to them now 1t will appear as IT
we were smarting under the OF having to pay
| the compensation awarded, and united action of
| America and England hereafter, In case OF war
| with or between other Powers, would be impos
| sible.
| MIR. Vernon Harcourt spoke strongly in favor OF
the motion. He declared that the rules never held
water The best thing possible to do was to re-
quest the United States government to withdraw
them and substitute others which, in the event Of
war, would not make neutrality intolerable.
was opposed to disturbing the decision Of the
Geneva Board. He argued that the rules only re-
quired England to enforce her own laws Ii they
were repealed England's commerce would be
ruined forever in the very next war. He hoped
the House would not reverse the governments
just and statesmanlike policy.
Mr.. Gregory, conservative, sharply criticised
the action of the Geneva Board in imposing dan
ger0us liabilities on neutrals.
Mr.. Samuel Laing spoke against the motion.
Sir Stafford Nortncote was disposed to favor it.
lie asked whether the government really accepted
the ideas involved in these rules II 1t did they
ought to be made law.
The Attorney General, Sir J. Duke Coleridge,
asked whether 1t was wise and dignifed to pass
such an opinion as the right honorable gentleman's
address indrcc city conveyed upon the conduct OF
the arbitratOrs whom the country through Parla-
ment had thanked for their services. He cOntin-
ued:-"We must submit to the award made at &C.
neva. We had better hold our tongues and pay the
money" He confessed that 1t would be impossi-
BILE to submit the rules to other Powers Tor adop-
ton without distinct statement Of the extent to
which England consents to be bound thereby.
Mr.. Disraeli was glad that the government in
tended to come to some understanding with that
Of the United States in regard to these rules. He
hoped they would do so speedily and then the two
other Powers for their consideration.
Mr.. Gladstone concurred in the view Of the SUBJ
ject taken by Mr.. Dsraeli. He believed the rules
would lose their force II England alone submitted
them to the Powers. The governments opinion
was unchanged, and he assured the House that the
matter had not and would not be neglected.
The motion was then withdrawn and the debate
ended
The Three Articles Incriminated by the
J. English Opposition.
The Geneva Court OF Arbitration, after reciting
formidable and technical preface, sets forth the
principle by which It was governed in concluding
the Alabama claims award, in the following
words:-
Whereas, having regard to the fourth and sew.
enth articles OF the said treaty the arbitrators
bound, under the terms Of the said sixth article,
governed by the three rules therein specified and
BY such principles Of international law not incon
sigtent Herewith the arbltrators shall deter.
mine to have been applicable to the case"
/ WHAT THE TREATY OF WASHINGTON SAYS.
The sixth article of the Treaty OF Washington
reads ~ follows:-
Az, Sin deciding the matters submitted 70 the srbi
parties .x,Yis. g Ss taken :EHc:S!s ne ana
ihsIewi!S :: ths s,sIsO.: shall determine 70 have
%snt & bound, irst to use due disencs q pre
n tSs o. any %ns y .ssE .s
able ground TO believe Is intended TO cruise or TO
s to vim ws III
from Its ursdction Of any to cruise
sdaIsd whole part Within Dsfe .
warlike Secondly not to permit or suffer either
81 or the
ns ~ or ~ Of S D .a
&. .Ra q
Hs sTfS 10.
her High and e declare
going rules Is statement Of principles Of
TnsS Crcs a. The IT., time e.. wh H the
government order to evincc desire Of strengthen.
ne Ss
that In deciding the questions between the two countries
SsS
the principles set forth in these rules And the
and sm To
knowledge Of other marite Powers and 70 invite them
TO accede to them
The seventh article Of the Treaty Of washington
reads
be made within three months from the close OF the
ment both sides 1t shall made in writing and
y
each vessel separately whether Great Britain has By any
forth IN the foregoing three rules or recognized by
The said vessels In case the tribunal nd that Great
q be paid By the Tor
awarded shall be paid in coin by the governments
Of Great Britain % the OF the United states
whereof shall be delivered to the agent Of Great britain
70
NAVAL ORDERS.
WASHINGTON. March q. 1874.