No. 5.
Mr. Davis to Mr. Fish.
Geneva, December 15,
1871. (Received January 10.)
Sir: I have the honor to report that I left
Paris, the 13th instant, for this place in company with Mr. Adams, Sir
Alexander Cockburn, and Lord Tenterden. On the route we were enabled to
discuss and arrange the preliminaries for the organization of the
Tribunal. This has made the work to-day comparatively light.
After calling upon the various Arbitrators this morning, we proceeded [Page 417] to the Hotel de Ville to pay
our respects to the President of this Canton and to the Council of
State. We were formally received by them, and Mr. Adams made a proper
acknowledgment of our appreciation of their courtesy in tendering the
Hotel de Ville for the conferences.
At three o’clock the gentlemen had all arrived at the rooms assigned to
us. The proceedings commenced by an informal examination of the powers
of the Arbitrators, all of which were found to be in due form.
Mr. Adams then said that as neither he nor Sir Alexander Cockburn could
preside, it had been thought advisable to invite the gentleman next in
rank, in the order named in the Treaty, to preside over the meetings of
the Tribunal. Sir Alexander Cockburn said that he seconded the proposal,
not only for the reason given by Mr. Adams, but because Count Sclopis
was one of the most illustrious of the Jurists of Europe. Count Sclopis
took the Chair and returned his thanks in a neat speech.
It had been arranged beforehand that Mr. Stämpfli should be asked to name
a Secretary. On the formal request by Count Sclopis, in the name of the
Tribunal, he named Mr. Alexander Favrot, of Berne. The gentleman was
waiting in the ante-room, and was conducted to his place by Lord
Tenterden and myself.
I then presented the Case on behalf of the United States. Some new
evidence from Melbourne and the Cape of Good Hope, which I had received
at the last moment, had to be put in manuscript, in fact partly in press
copies; but it is in press in Paris, and printed copies will soon be
substituted.
I send herewith a copy of the note accompanying the Cases. It was
identical with all parties.
I also send a copy of the note which Lord Tenterden presented with his
Case and Documents.
December 16.
The conference was held to-day at the Hotel de Ville pursuant to
adjournment. All the Arbitrators were present, and it was determined to
adjourn until June, unless one of the parties should convene an earlier
meeting under the fourth article of the Treaty. I inclose copies of the
Protocols of yesterday’s and to-day’s conferences.
I have, &c.,
Mr. Davis to
Mr. Adams.
[Inclosure No. 1.]
Geneva, December 15,
1871.
The undersigned, Agent of the United States, appointed to attend the
Tribunal of Arbitration convened at Geneva under the provisions of a
Treaty, concluded at Washington, May 8, 1871, between the United
States and Her Britannic Majesty, has the honor, in compliance with
the provisions of Article III of the Treaty, to deliver herewith, in
duplicate, to the Hon. Charles Francis Adams, the Arbitrator named
by the President of the United States, the printed Case of the
United States, accompanied by the documents, the official
correspondence, and other evidence on which they rely.
The undersigned, &c.,
J. C. BANCROFT DAVIS.
[List of inclosures.]
- I.
- The Case of the United States, (2 copies.)
- II.
- Documents, Correspondence, and Evidence in support of the Case
of the United States, in seven volumes, (2 copies.)
- III.
- Certain other Documents, Correspondence, and Evidence in
manuscript relating to the Alabama and to the Shenandoah, which
reached the Agent too late to be printed with the volumes, (2
copies.)
- IV.
- The Certificate of the Secretary of State of the United States
to the correctness of certain copies contained in the
above-named volumes, (2 copies.)
- V.
- The Certificate of the Secretary of the Treasury of the United
States to the correctness of certain other copies contained in
the above-named volumes, (2 copies.)
- VI.
- The Certificate of the Secretary of the Navy of the United
States to the correctness of certain other copies contained in
the above-named volumes, (2 copies.)
- VII.
- The Certificate of the Secretary of War of the United States
to the correctness of certain other copies contained in the
above-named volumes, (2 copies.)
Note.—As soon as Inclosure No. 3 can be
printed, printed copies will be furnished. It has been impossible to
get them ready in time for this Conference.
Lord Tenterden
to Mr. Davis.
[Inclosure No. 2.]
Geneva, December 15,
1871.
The undersigned, Agent of Her Britannic Majesty, appointed to attend
the Tribunal of Arbitration convened at Geneva, under the provisions
of the Treaty concluded at Washington on the 8th of May, 1871,
between Her Britannic Majesty and the United States, has the honor,
in compliance with the provisions of Article III of the Treaty, to
deliver herewith, in duplicate, to Mr. J. C. Bancroft Davis, the
Agent appointed by the United States, the printed Case of the
Government of Her Britannic Majesty, accompanied by the documents,
the official correspondence, and other evidence on which it
relies.
The undersigned, &c.,
