CONCERNING

CLAIMS AGAINST GREAT BRITAIN

TRANSMITTED TO THE

SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

IN ANSWER TO THE

RESOLUTIONS OF DECEMBER 4 AND 10, 1867, AND OF MAY 27, 1868.

933322

U.S.6344.5.5

6.

1872, May & Gist Anonymous.

PAPERS

RELATING TO

CLAIMS AGAINST GREAT BRITAIN.

GENERAL APPENDIX No. I.

Proclamations and declarations of powers other than Great Britain, issued subsequently to the Queen's proclamation of neutrality.

10 Mr. Dayton to Mr. Seward.

FRANCE.

June 12 Inclosing copy of "Le Moniteur Universel,"
containing Emperor's formal declaration in
respect to privateers, &c. Prohibits vessels
of war and privateers of either belligerent
from remaining in French ports more than
twenty-four hours, except in distress; also
prohibits sale of captured goods in said
ports; forbids French subjects to aid or
engage in privateering or equipment of
vessels of war for either party, or to enlist
in their military or naval service, and
commands them to abstain from all viola-
tions of neutrality at home or abroad. In-
fringement of these prohibitions subjects
the offender to prosecution and the loss of
protection of his government.

HAWAIIAN ISLANDS.

5 Mr. Dryer to Mr. Sept. 7 Inclosing copy of King's proclamation, which

Seward.

declares neutrality between United States
and "certain States thereof, styling them-
selves Confederate States of America." All
captures made within King's jurisdiction
are unlawful. All subjects, or persons re-
siding within the realm, are prohibited
from aiding or engaging in privateering,
on pain of losing protection of the govern-

GENERAL APPENDIX No. I-Continued.

No.

From whom and
to whom.

Date.

4 Mr. Pike to Mr. Seward.

13

1861.

Subject.

ment. No adjudication of prizes, or sale
of captured goods, will be allowed in
Hawaiian ports; nor will privateers, or
their prizes, be permitted to enter said
ports, except in distress.

THE NETHERLANDS.

June 16 Inclosing copies of proclamations about to
be issued by government, which prohibit
privateers, or their prizes, from entering
Dutch ports, except in distress; adhere to
declaration of Paris of 1856, in refusing to
recognize commissions or letters of marque;
forbid subjects to engage in privateering
on pain of prosecution at home and being
treated as pirates abroad, or to carry con-
traband of war or dispatches of either
belligerent on pain of losing the protection
of his Majesty's government.

PORTUGAL.

Mr. Harvey to Aug. 25 Inclosing copy of a note from the Foreign
Mr. Seward.

Office, covering King's proclamation in re-
gard to privateers. The government ad-
heres to the Paris declaration of 1856;
forbids all persons engaging in privateer-
ing in Portuguese jurisdiction, and pro-
hibits entrance of privateers or prizes into
Portuguese ports, except in cases of neces-
sity.

Page.

5

7

PRUSSIA.

178 Mr. Wright to June 25 Inclosing copy of "National Zeitung," con-
Mr. Seward.

taining Baron Schlienitz's dispatch to
Baron Gerolt; also of an order from minis-
ter of commerce, directing the mercantile
classes to abstain from enterprises forbid-
den by international law, and by ordinance
of 12th June, 1856, and denying protection
of the government to Prussian shipping or
subjects engaged in privateering, carrying
contraband of war, or forwarding dis-
patches. Mr. Wright declares sympathy
of German States to be with United States.

RUSSIA.

18 Mr. Appleton to June 3 Inclosing copies of two orders of Russian

Mr. Seward.

government, directing that the flags of
confederate men-of-war must not be sa-
luted, but that confederate merchant
vessels shall be treated according to rules
contained in treaty with America of
December, 1832, even if their papers are
not regular; and that, should crews of
such vessels not acknowledge authority of
United States consuls, they must abide by
decision of local Russian authorities.

7

Mr. Perry to Mr.
Seward.

1861. June 19

56

Inclosing copy of royal decree, which pro-
claims neutrality; forbids all arming,
equipping, or providing of privateers,
under any flag, in Spanish ports; or ac-
ceptance of letters of marque by Spanish
subjects; or entry into Spanish ports of
privateers or prizes, except in distress;
or the sale of captured goods in said ports;
or blockade-running, carrying contraband
of war and dispatches for either party; or
enlistment of Spanish subjects in belli-
gerent service, on pain of prosecution at
home, and loss of protection of government.

Mr. Savage to Sept. 6 Inclosing copies of correspondence with Con-
Mr. Seward.

sul Martin, at Matanzas, in reference to the
entry into that port of vessels bearing the
confederate flag; also copy of decree of
Captain General of Cuba, permitting entry
of such vessels to discharge and take on
cargoes in the ports of Cuba, provided
their papers excite no suspicion of piracy
or other crime against the law of nations,
and regarding such vessels as coming from
a country which has no accredited consul
in Cuban territory. Mr. Savage has made
no communication to the authorities on
the subject.

GENERAL APPENDIX No. II.

Hasty recognition of rebel belligerency. By George Bemis.

Mr. Vernon Har-
court.

Mr. George Bemis

Preface...

The new position of the British ministry-
that the American proclamation of block-
ade of the confederate ports necessitated
the Queen's proclamation of neutrality-
an afterthought.

The American proclamation of blockade not
the occasion of the recognition of confed-
erate belligerency, because, supposing the
former to have been officially commu-
nicated, it was not known to have been
enforced at the date of the latter; and,
furthermore, if enforced, was not such an
act as ought to have been internationally
treated as an act of war.
Correction of various misstatements of His-
toricus in his article of March 22, and
incidental notice of Earl Russell's dis-
patch to Lord Lyons of March 6, 1861.
The recognition of confederate belligerency
not a bygone, but a continuing reality.
Appendix-the neutrality of England-com-
munication of Historicus to the London
Times of March 22, 1865.

British neutrality-hasty recognition of rebel
belligerency and our right to complain of it.