4. Mr. Fish to Sir Edward Thornton.
Washington, February 3, 1871.
Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your note of the 1st instant, in which you inform me that you are authorized by Earl Granville to state that it would give Her Majesty’s Government great satisfaction if the claims com in only known by the name of the “Alabama claims “were submitted to the consideration of the same High Commission by which Her Majesty’s Government have proposed that the questions relations to the British possessions in North America should be discussed, provided that all other claims, both of British subjects and citizens of the United States, arising out of acts committed during the recent civil war in this country, are similarly referred to the same Commission.
I have laid your note before the President, and he has directed me to express the satisfaction with which he has received the intelligence that Earl Granville has authorized you to state that Her Majesty’s Government has accepted the views of this Government as to the disposition to be made of the so-called “Alabama claims.”
He also directs me to say, with reference to the remainder of your note, that if there be other and further claims of British subejcts, or of American citizens, growing out of acts committed during the recent civil war in this country, he assents to the propriety of their reference to the same High Commission; but he suggests that the High Commissioners shall consider only such claims of this description as may be presented [Page 386] by the Governments of the respective claimants at an early day, to be agreed upon by the Commissioners.
I have the honor to be, with the highest consideration, sir, your obedient servant,
Sir Edward Thornton, K. C. B., &c., &c., &c.
The Commissioners further determined that the discussion might include such other matters as might be mutually agreed upon.
The meeting of the High Commissioners was then adjourned to the 4th of March.
- J. C. BANCROFT DAVIS.
- TENTERDEN.