Synthesized answer
The provided passages do not explicitly detail the economic and political motivations behind Britain's initial stance of neutrality and the delay in detaining vessels like the "Alabama." However, they do indicate that after President Abraham Lincoln declared a blockade of southern ports, the British government issued a proclamation of neutrality, recognizing the Confederates as belligerents [1]. This was followed by France and other nations [1].
The passages highlight that Confederate agencies were established in England for purchasing arms, which were then dispatched in merchant vessels to the Bahamas for transshipment onto fast steamers constructed for the purpose [1]. Specifically, the vessel "Alabama," intended as a man-of-war, was being built by Messrs. Laird at Birkenhead [1]. Despite particulars about its character being forwarded to Earl Russell by the United States consul at Liverpool, and the law officers advising detention if correct, the vessel was not detained promptly [1]. The passages suggest that by some accident, the papers were not returned until July 29th, and by then, the vessel had already sailed on the evening of July 28th [5]. The United States government…
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From the book
tes on the 13th of April 1861. On the 19th of April President Abraham Lincoln declared a blockade of the southern ports. On the 14th of May the British government issued a proclamation of neutrality, by which the Confederates were recognized as belligerents. This example was followed shortly afterwards by France and other nations. The blockade of the southern ports was not at first effective, and blockade-running soon became an active industry. The Confederates established agencies in England for the purchase of arms, which they despatched in ordinary merchant vessels to the Bahamas, whence…
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…
nfriendly utterances of British politicians and the material assistance afforded to the Confederates by British traders. The inclusion of the indirect losses and the other matters just referred to caused great excitement in England. That they were within the treaty was disputed, and it was argued that, if they were, the treaty should be amended or denounced. In October 1872 Lord Granville notified to General Schenck, the United States minister, that the British government did not consider that the indirect losses were within the submission, and in April the British counter-case was filed…
. 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.
was laid before the law officers, who advised that, if these particulars were correct, the vessel ought to be detained. On the 21st of July sworn evidence, which was supplemented on the 23rd of July, was obtained and laid before the commissioners of customs (who were the proper authorities to enforce the provisions of the Foreign Enlistment Act of 1819), but they declined to move. On the 23rd of July the same evidence was laid before the law officers, who advised that there was sufficient ground for detention. By some accident, which has never been satisfactorily explained, but was probably…
More questions about this book
- Why was Britain's proclamation of neutrality, recognizing the Confederates as belligerents, so significant in the context of the American Civil War, and how might it have influenced the United States' perception of Britain's role?
- Explain the legal and diplomatic challenges presented to the British government by the construction of the "Alabama" in Birkenhead, considering the concept of neutrality. How did the official advice and subsequent actions (or inactions) reflect the complexities of enforcing international law at the time?
- The text states the "Alabama" Arbitration is a "conspicuous example of the value of arbitration as a means of averting war." Unpack this statement. What specific elements of this case made arbitration valuable in preventing further conflict, and what might have been the alternative outcomes without it?
- If you were explaining the core dispute regarding neutrality and state responsibility in the "Alabama" Arbitration to someone unfamiliar with 19th-century international law, how would you simplify it and what analogy might you use to make it clearly understandable?