Synthesized answer
The British government's proclamation of neutrality and recognition of the Confederates as belligerents [1, 4] was one of two grievances the United States government alleged against Great Britain [2]. This recognition, along with a general manifestation of unfriendliness, was part of the US claims [2]. The immediate consequence of this proclamation was that other nations, such as France, followed suit [1]. The passages do not detail further immediate consequences of this specific proclamation itself, beyond the subsequent recognition by other nations.
Regarding the international legality of vessels like the "Alabama," the proclamation of belligerent status by Britain, coupled with the subsequent allowance of Confederate vessels to be built and equipped on British territory, led to grievances from the United States [2]. The passages indicate that the "Alabama" was built by Messrs. Laird at Birkenhead and was intended for a man-of-war [1]. The United States government alleged this as a breach of neutrality [2]. The potential long-term consequence of these actions was the institution of a commission in Washington in February 1871 to settle the questions at issue, which eventually…
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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…
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…
← 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…
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…
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.
- Given the British government's declared neutrality, analyze the complexities and potential conflicts of interest that might have allowed a warship intended for the Confederacy to be built in a British shipyard.
- 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?