Synthesized answer
The passages show that the British government’s declared neutrality created a conflict of interest because its own legal and administrative processes were slow and poorly enforced, allowing the Confederate warship “Alabama” (originally “No. 290”) to be built and escape. Although the law officers twice advised that the vessel ought to be detained based on evidence from the U.S. consul [1][3], the commissioners of customs initially declined to move, and the papers were not returned until 29 July due to the illness of the queen’s advocate [3]. By then the ship had already sailed on 28 July, and no serious pursuit was made even though she remained off Anglesey for two days [3].
The passages also indicate that British traders and politicians materially assisted the Confederacy, with the “Alabama” receiving her armament from Liverpool in British ships after escaping [3]. This led to U.S. grievances over breaches of neutrality, which were eventually submitted to arbitration [2]. The arbitration later established rules requiring a neutral government to use “due diligence” to prevent the fitting out or departure of vessels intended for war [5].
Thus, the passages explain that the…
Synthesized from the book passages below. Chat with the book on Feynman for follow-up.
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…
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…
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…
rst agreed upon.” After some discussion the British commissioners consented that the three following rules should apply. A neutral government is bound—(1) to use due diligence to prevent the fitting out, arming or equipping within its jurisdiction of any vessel, which it has reasonable ground to believe is intended to cruise or to carry on war against a power with which it is at peace, and also to use like diligence to prevent the departure from its jurisdiction of any vessel intended to cruise or carry on war as above, such vessel having been specially adapted, in whole or in part, within…
More questions about this book
- Explain, as if to a peer, the complete narrative of how the "Alabama" came to be built and why its construction became a significant international dispute, distinguishing between its historical and juridical importance.
- What were the immediate and potential long-term consequences of the British government's proclamation of neutrality and recognition of the Confederates as belligerents, particularly concerning the international legality of vessels like the "Alabama"?
- How does the "Alabama" Arbitration, as described, exemplify the role of international arbitration in averting war, and what specific elements contributed to this outcome?
- If you were the British law officer receiving the U.S. consul's evidence, what specific legal arguments or interpretations of international law would you apply to determine if the "Alabama" should be detained, considering the context of neutrality?