They contain, in the first place, an expression of regret for the escape of the Confederate vessels from British ports and for the depredations committed by them.
They provide, secondly, for a tribunal of arbitration, composed of five members, one of whom should be named by the President of the United States, one by Her Britannic Majesty, one by the King of Italy, one by the President of the Swiss Confederation, and one by the Emperor of Brazil; and, in case either of these last three mentioned should fail to name an arbitrator, they provide that one should be named by the King of Sweden and Norway; and finally, that one agent should be named by each of the high contracting parties to represent it generally in all matters connected with the arbitration.
They provide, in the third place, that "the Arbitrators shall meet at Geneva, in Switzerland, at the earliest convenient day after they shall
The Alabama claims and
the Geneva convention.
They provide, in the fourth place, that each of the two high contracting parties should deliver his written or printed case, together with all the evidence in support of it, to each of the arbitrators and to the agent of the other party, as soon as possible after the organization of the Tribunal, and within a period not exceeding six months from the 17th of June, 1871; that within four months after the delivery on both sides of the case, each party might put in a counter case, with additional evidence, in reply to the case of the other party; that the arbitrators might extend the time, under certain circumstances, for delivering the counter case; that "within two months after the expiration of the time limited for the delivery of the counter case on both sides," the agent of each party should deliver to each of the arbitrators "and to the agent of the other party a written or printed argument showing the points and referring to the evidence upon which his Government relies"; and that the arbitrators might require further argument by counsel, giving to each party an equal chance to be heard.
They provide, in the fifth place, that the Tribunal should consider the case of each vessel separately; that it might, however, award a gross sum, or that in case it did not award a sum in gross, the high contracting parties should appoint two members of a board of assessors, and request the Italian Minister at Washington to appoint a third, which board should determine the amounts due in the cases in which the arbitrators had pronounced responsibility.
They provide, in the sixth place, that in deciding the matters submitted the arbitrators should be governed by the following rules:
"A neutral government is bound, first, to use diligence to prevent the fitting out, arming, or equipping, within its jurisdiction, of any vessel which it has reasonable ground to believe is intended to cruise or to carry on war against a Power with which it is at peace; and also to use like diligence to prevent the departure from its jurisdiction of any vessel intended to cruise or carry on war as above, such vessel having been specially adapted, in whole or in part, within such jurisdiction, to warlike use. Secondly, not to permit or suffer either belligerent to make use of its ports or waters as the base of naval operations against the other, or for the purpose of the renewal or augmentation of military supplies or arms, or the recruitment of men. Thirdly, to exercise due diligence in its own ports and waters, and, as to all persons within its jurisdiction, to prevent any violation of the foregoing obligations and duties."