Synthesized answer
The "Alabama" Arbitration was a dispute between the United States and Great Britain concerning pecuniary claims made by the U.S. on behalf of its subjects against Britain [1]. The core conflict arose from the United States' allegations of Great Britain's breaches of neutrality by allowing Confederate vessels, such as the "Alabama," "Florida," and "Shenandoah," to be built and equipped on British territory during the American Civil War [2]. The United States also raised grievances regarding Britain's recognition of the Southern States as belligerents [2].
This arbitration is significant both historically and juridically, serving as a valuable example of how arbitration can prevent war [1]. The dispute was settled through a tribunal established by the Treaty of Washington [5]. The tribunal adopted the view, suggested by the United States, that Great Britain was legally responsible for the depredations of the "Alabama" and "Florida," and the "Shenandoah" after it left Melbourne [4]. The court unanimously found Great Britain responsible for the "Alabama's" actions and awarded damages of $15,500,000 in gold [4]. The passages do not detail the specific articulation of its contribution…
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From the book
← 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…
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.
ontended that it must be a diligence commensurate with the emergency or with the magnitude of the results of negligence. The British government maintained that while the measure of care which a government is bound to use in such cases must be dependent more or less upon circumstances, it would be unreasonable to require that it should exceed that which the governments of civilized states were accustomed to employ in matters concerning their own security or that of their citizens. The tribunal adopted the view suggested by the United States. It found that Great Britain was legally responsible…
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…
More questions about this book
- What were the immediate and potential long-term consequences of Britain's declaration of neutrality and recognition of the Confederacy as belligerents, especially concerning the "Alabama" case?
- How did the construction of the "Alabama" in a neutral port challenge the established understanding of neutrality in international law, and what specific actions by the U.S. consul highlighted this challenge?
- The text states the arbitration "affords a conspicuous example of the value of arbitration as a means of averting war." What specific elements of the "Alabama" case demonstrate this value, and what broader principles of international conflict resolution can be drawn from it?
- Considering the American Civil War's origin in the "slavery question," how might this underlying moral conflict have subtly complicated or influenced the decisions and responses of neutral European powers like Britain, even when seemingly adhering to legal neutrality?