September 14, 2022: 150 Years ago: England pays for CSS Alabama Damages

 

Alabama Claims under the Geneva Tribunal

Following the Civil War, resolution of American claims against the British government for allowing the Confederate government to contract the building of three commerce raiders in British shipyards resulted in a treaty agreement and the formation of the Geneva Tribunal as arbiter of the claims.  William initially submitted a claim but subsequently withdrew it.
 

Three ships were built for the Confederacy in Britain, the Alabama, the Florida, and the Shenandoah. Except for the Florida, these ships never visited a Confederate port, but they did sink a considerable amount of Northern shipping, particularly in the Pacific Ocean, before they were hunted down and destroyed in 1864. The British government originally refused to consider any compensation. When reminded that a precedent was being set, and that the United States might build similar warships for Britain's enemies in future wars, Her Majesty's Government reconsidered and agreed to an arbitration tribunal that met in Geneva in December 1871. On September 14, 1872, the Tribunal awarded the United States $15.5 million for the damages caused by the Alabama and its sister ships.(3)
The process of establishing and paying off claims took many years. In January 1883, the Court of Commissioners of Alabama Claims held its first business session in Washington. At that time, more than 6,000 claims had been filed.(2) William reported in his diary in May that he had gone to an insurance company to testify as to his claim regarding a shipment to California.(Diary, 1883-05-01) During 1883, the Court of Commissioners processed the submitted claims.(1) Nevertheless, in October of that year, William noted that he had ordered his Alabama claim to be withdrawn.(Diary 1883-10-27, 10-30) He did not provide the reason why he had taken that action.