Synthesized answer
The "Alabama" Arbitration was a dispute between the United States and Great Britain concerning pecuniary claims made by one state on behalf of its subjects against the other [1]. The core conflict revolved around actions taken by Great Britain during the American Civil War. In 1861, the Southern States seceded from the United States [1]. The United States government had two main grievances against Great Britain: the recognition of the Southern States as belligerents and a perceived unfriendliness, and more specifically, breaches of neutrality by allowing Confederate vessels, such as the "Alabama," "Florida," and "Shenandoah," to be built and equipped on British territory [2]. The immediate catalyst for the dispute was the destructive career of these Confederate vessels, particularly the "Alabama," which caused significant damage before being sunk [2].
To resolve this, a commission was appointed in 1871, leading to the Treaty of Washington [2, 4]. This treaty stipulated that the "Alabama" claims, along with others stemming from the acts of these vessels, would be submitted to arbitration [4]. The arbitration involved five arbitrators, with each country appointing one, and the…
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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.
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
- How did Great Britain's proclamation of neutrality, combined with the construction of vessels like the "Alabama" in British shipyards, create a complex challenge to international law regarding neutral nations during wartime, and what long-term legal precedents might this case have established?
- The text emphasizes arbitration as a means of "averting war." What specific actions or diplomatic failures, on the part of any of the involved parties, indicated that the "Alabama" dispute was escalating towards a conflict that required such an intervention?
- Imagine you are Mr. C. F. Adams, the U.S. representative. What persuasive arguments and evidence would you have used to convince Earl Russell that the "Alabama" must be detained, and what would have been the potential ramifications if your efforts had been ignored?
- Given that this account is from the 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica, how might the perspective and emphasis of this historical summary differ from an account written immediately after the events in the 1860s, particularly concerning the "historical and juridical" significance?