Arbitration, tribunal of,
In the history of the
United States and
Great Britain, the name of that body of arbitrators appointed under the treaty, negotiated by the
joint high commission (q. v.) principally to settle the claims of the
United States against
Great Britain, growing out of the depredations of the Confederate cruiser
Alabama (see
Alabama, the). For arbitrators, the
United States appointed
Charles Francis Adams, and
Great Britain Sir Alexander Cockburn.
The two governments jointly invited the
Emperor of
Brazil, the
King of
Italy, and the
President of the
Swiss Confederation, each to appoint an arbitrator.
The Emperor appointed
Baron d'itazuba, the
King chose
Count Frederick Selopis, and the
President of the
Swiss Confederation appointed
James Staempfli.
J. C. Bancroft Davis was appointed agent of the
United States, and Lord Tenterden that of
Great Britain.
These several gentlemen formed the “Tribunal of arbitration.”
They assembled at
Geneva, Switzerland, Dec. 15, 1871, when
Count Selopis was chosen to preside.
After two meetings they adjourned to the middle of January, 1872.
A final meeting was held in September the same year, and on the 14th of that month they announced their decision on the
Alabama claims.
That decision was a decree that the government of
Great Britain should pay to the government of the
United States the sum of $15,500,000 in gold, to be given to citizens of the
United States in payment of losses incurred by the depredations of the
Alabama and other Anglo-Confederate cruisers.
That amount was paid into the treasury of the
United States a year afterwards.
The other matters in dispute were settled.
The question of boundary on the
Pacific coast was referred to the
Emperor of
Germany, who decided in favor of the claims of the
United States to the possession of the island of
San Juan, the domain in dispute.