THE AMERICAN CIVIL WAR 255 



prolongation of the war. That is, the indirect 

 or national claims were laid before the tribunal 

 along with the rest. Protests arose at once 

 from every organ of opinion in Great Britain. 

 To admit responsibility for that kind and degree 

 of loss would mean, it was declared, national 

 humiliation and financial ruin. The govern 

 ment and the negotiators contended that the 

 wording of the treaty excluded the indirect 

 claims from submission to the tribunal, and that 

 such exclusion had been agreed to in conference 

 by the American negotiators. The latter de 

 nied any such agreement or interpretation. 

 Great Britain stood firm in her contention, 

 however, and her agent was directed to with 

 draw from the arbitration in case consideration 

 of the indirect claims should be persisted in. 

 After many months of tension and of deep dis 

 tress among the friends of peace and amity, a 

 way out of the impasse was found that was 

 acceptable to both parties. The tribunal itself 

 declared that it did not consider itself author 

 ized, under international law, to award money 

 compensation for such losses as those involved 

 in the indirect claims. The American agent 

 thereupon refrained from demands upon the 

 arbiters for further attention to these claims. 



