Synthesized answer
The potential for arbitration began to mitigate a direct conflict between the US and Britain through the suggestion and subsequent agreement to submit the "Alabama" claims to arbitration. The United States government had alleged grievances against Great Britain concerning breaches of neutrality in allowing Confederate vessels, including the "Alabama," to be built and equipped on British territory [1]. Correspondence over these grievances spanned several years [1]. In February 1871, a commission was appointed to seek a common understanding on how to settle the issues [1].
The British commissioners then suggested submitting the "Alabama" claims to arbitration [1, 2]. Although the American commissioners initially refused unless governing principles could be agreed upon, the British consented to specific rules [2]. These arrangements were embodied in the treaty of Washington, signed in May 1871, which provided for a tribunal of five arbitrators to consider the claims [4]. By agreeing to this process of arbitration, both nations were moving towards a peaceful resolution of their disputes rather than engaging in direct conflict [3]. The passages detail the establishment of the…
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From the book
rpool in two British ships. Captain Semmes there took command of her under a commission from the Confederate government. After a most destructive career she was sunk off Cherbourg by the “Kearsarge” on the 19th of June 1864. On these facts the United States government alleged against Great Britain two grievances, or sets of grievances. The first was the recognition of the Southern States as belligerents and a general manifestation of unfriendliness in other ways. The second was in respect of breaches of neutrality in allowing the “Alabama,” the “Florida” (originally the “Oreto”, the…
. With respect to the “Alabama” claims the British commissioners suggested that they should be submitted to arbitration. The American commissioners refused “unless the principles which should govern the arbitrators in the consideration of the facts could be first agreed upon.” After some discussion the British commissioners consented that the three following rules should apply.
← Alabama 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica , Volume 1 "Alabama" Arbitration by Montague Hughes Crackanthorpe Alabama River → See also Alabama Claims on Wikipedia ; and our 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica disclaimer . 244259 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica , Volume 1 — "Alabama" Arbitration Montague Hughes Crackanthorpe “ALABAMA” ARBITRATION. —This is one of those arbitrations on pecuniary claims, made by one state, on behalf of its subjects, against another state, which are referred to in the article Arbitration, International . The case is important, both from a historical and a juridical point of…
d waters, and as to all persons within its jurisdiction to prevent any violation of the foregoing obligation and duties. The arrangements made by the commission were embodied in the treaty of Washington, which was signed on the 8th of May 1871, and approved by the Senate on the 24th of May. Article 1, after expressing the regret felt by Her Majesty’s government for the escape, in whatever circumstances, of the “Alabama” and other vessels from British ports, and for the depredations committed by these vessels, provided that “the claims growing out of the acts of the said vessels, and…
decided by a majority of the arbitrators, and each of the contracting parties was to name one person to attend as agent. Article 6 provided that the arbitrators should be governed by the three rules quoted above, and by such principles of international law not inconsistent therewith as the arbitrators should determine to be applicable to the case. By the same article the parties agreed to observe these rules as between themselves in future, and to bring them to the knowledge of other maritime powers. Article 7 provided that the decision should be made within three months from the close of the…
More questions about this book
- Explain, as if to someone unfamiliar with the American Civil War, why the British government's proclamation of neutrality and recognition of the Confederates as belligerents was a pivotal moment leading to the "Alabama" Arbitration.
- From the perspective of a neutral nation like Britain, what specific obligations or challenges arose when the United States presented evidence regarding the "Alabama" being built on British soil for a belligerent power?
- If you were the US Consul in Liverpool, what would be your most compelling argument to Earl Russell for the immediate detention of the "Alabama," and what diplomatic risks might such a request entail for Anglo-American relations?
- How does the detailed description of the "Alabama"'s construction and the subsequent US diplomatic actions illustrate the evolving concept of international neutrality during wartime in the 19th century?