INTERNATIONAL CLAIMS AND DISPUTES. The organization of the world into national states, their close interdependence and the conflicting interests arising during a war, have often led to disputes or the commis sion of some act or injury by a foreign gov ernment, or its citizens, against the United States. In some cases trouble has arisen be tween a citizen of the United States and one of a foreign country. This may take on an in ternational character when officially recognized and prosecuted by our government. In either case claims arise which often involve a money payment. Settlement is made either through diplomatic agencies, treaties, conventions or by referring the matter to a court of arbitration.
The first important claims made by the United States against a foreign power were provided for in the treaty concluded by John Jay with Great Britain, 19 Nov. 1794. 'Pro vision was made for three arbitrations involv ing, first, questions relating to boundaries; second, the claims of Great Britain on account of confiscated debts; and third, the subject of neutral rights and duties. Commissions were a winted, the first giving its decision 25 Oct. 1 declaring the river Schoodiac, under the name Saint Croix, to be the one intended as the boundary between the United States and Canada. The second commission met at Phil adelphia, but came to no decision regarding the claims of British subjects as to their con fiscated debts. This matter was settled later by treaty concluded 8 Jan. 1802, with an award of £600,000 to Great Britain in satisfaction of its citizens' demands. The third tribunal sat at London and decided the case of each Ameri can claimant on account of captures made under the Orders in Council, and the British claims against the United States on account of the latter's failure to enforce its neutrality. American claimants recovered $11,650,000, while the aggregate of the awards against the United States appears to have been $143,428.14. Simi larly the Treaty of Ghent, 24 Dec. 1814, pro vided for three arbitrations between the United States and Great Britain relating to the owner ship of certain islands and to boundaries.
The most famous of the claims of the United States against Great Britain was the so-called Alabama claims. This case was brought before the Geneva tribunal (1872). The claims were based on accusations respect ing the failure of Great Britain to enforce strict neutrality during the Civil War by allowing the Confederate government to have vessels constructed in British ports; by failing to pre vent their departure and seizure; and by, allow ing them to be fitted out as privateers, with equipment. and supplies obtained in British ports and conveyed to them in other vessels. As a result many American vessels were captured or destroyed. Great Britain at first denied that she had been guilty of any neglect. In Ianu nary 1866, Secretary Seward proposed that the Alabama claims be submitted to arbitration, and in 1869 a convention provided for a general arbitration of the claims of the United States against Great Britain. This proposal was re jected by the Senate. • Finally Secretary Fish arrangeol, in 1870, for the appointment of a joint high commission to settle all differences between the United States and Great Britain, Each government appointed five high commis sioners, who met at Washington, 27 Feb. 1871, and after discussion signed the Treaty of Wash ington 8 May 1871, providing for arbitration of the Alabama and other claims. Great Britain apologized for the escape of the Ala bama and other Confederate cruisers from Brit ish ports. She admitted that a neutral govern= ment was bound to use "due diligence in the performance of its duties? The claims for damages were to be submitted to five arbi trators. The United States was represented by Charles Francis Adams. The other arbi trators were appointed by the queen of Eng land, the king of Italy, the president of the Swiss Confederation and the emperor of Bra zil. The arbitrators met at Geneva and found that there had been negligence on the part of Great Britain, especially in respect to three Confederate cruisers, the Alabama, the Florida and the Shenandoah and awarded the United States $15,500,000.