THE AMERICAN CIVIL WAR 251 



noteworthy landmark in the history of Anglo- 

 American relations. 



In the forty-two articles of the treaty were 

 embodied provisions for the settlement of the 

 Alabama claims; of other claims by British and 

 American citizens arising out of the Civil War; 

 of the various controversies between the United 

 States and British North America as to the 

 inshore fisheries, navigation, and commerce 

 left pending by the abrogation of the Reci 

 procity Treaty in 1866; and finally of the dis 

 pute as to the ownership of the island of San 

 Juan, at the far western end of the line fixed 

 by the Oregon Treaty of 1846. 



As to the Alabama claims, the agreement 

 embodied in the treaty signified great conces 

 sions on both sides in the interest of an amica 

 ble settlement. Great Britain expressed regret 

 &quot;for the escape, under whatever circumstances, 

 of the Alabama and other vessels from British 

 ports, and for the depredations committed by 

 those vessels.&quot; In addition to this soothing 

 admission that something disagreeable had hap 

 pened to the United States, the British Gov 

 ernment consented to arbitration in the full 

 est sense in reference to all the claims. Three 

 rules were laid down as to the duties of a neu- 



