Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, Transmitted to Congress with the Annual Message of the President, December 4, 1871

No. 397.

Mr. Rublee to Mr. Fish.

No. 61.]

Legation of the United States, Berne , August 12, 1871. (Received August 29.)

Sir: I have the honor to transmit herewith a copy of a note from Mr. Schenk, the President of the Swiss Confederation, in which he formally announces that, in compliance with the joint request of the governments of the United States and Great Britain, he will name a member of the tribunal of arbitration for the settlement of the “Alabama claims,” in accordance with the provisions of the treaty of Washington, concluded on the 8th of May, A. D. 1871.

I am, &c.,

HORACE RUBLEE.

[Untitled]

Berne , August 9, 1871.

The President of the Swiss Confederation to Mr. Rublee.

The undersigned has had the honor to receive the note dated the 3d instant, addressed to him by the minister resident of the United States of America, by which Mr. Rublee informs him that the United States Government and the government of Great Britain have agreed, by the treaty of Washington of the 8th May, 1871, that the claim of the United States against England arising from the war of North America, and known under the name of the “Alabama question,” be regulated by a “tribunal of international arbitrators,” upon the basis of the dispositions of said treaty.

In conformity with article 1st of the treaty, the tribunal shall consist of five members, of which two shall be named by His Excellency the President of the United States and Her Majesty the Queen of England, and three others by His Majesty the King of Italy, the President of the Swiss Confederation, and His Majesty the Emperor of Brazil.

In transmitting the acts relative to this case to the undersigned, Mr. Minister Resident of the United States of America has expressed the desire of his high government that he may undertake to choose one of the arbitrators.

Thanking Mr. Rublee for this communication, the undersigned has the honor to inform him that he has immediately acquainted the Federal Council of the honorable mission intrusted to Switzerland by two high governments with which it is, by ties of friendship, so intimately connected, and that the council has, with pleasure, expressed its readiness to contribute to a work of reconciliation that answers so well to the dignity of two contracting nations, and to the principles of modern civilization.

In accordance with these considerations, the undersigned has been authorized to accept the honorable mission which was offered to him, and he will not fail to communicate in proper time to the Mr. Minister Resident of the United States the name of the arbitrator which he will have nominated.

In having the honor to bring these facts to the notice of Mr. Rublee, he hastens to renew to him the assurance of his high consideration.

The President of the confederation,

SCHENK.

Mr. Horace Rublee, Minister Resident of the United States of America at the Swiss Confederation, Berne.