212 UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO STUDIES 



In January, 1868, after referring to the Fenian disturbances of the 

 latter part of 1867 Seward, in a note to Adams, 1 said: 



It is plainly to be observed that the sympathies of the people of the United States are 

 every day more profoundly moved in behalf of Ireland. I have continually endeavored 

 to impress upon the British government the importance of eliminating from the so-called 

 Fenian excitement, as far as possible, certain legitimate causes of irritation and jealousy 

 between the people of the United States and the people of Great Britain. I have had less 

 success than I had hoped, and less, I am sure, than would have been conducive to the 



interests of both countries The people are appealing to the government throughout 



the whole country Perhaps after this popular protest shall have found earnest 



expression in both houses of Congress, British statesmen may perceive that a restoration of 

 cordial and friendly relations between the two countries is impossible while causes of irrita- 

 tion to which I have referred are allowed to endure. 



These representations of Seward's Adams conveyed to the British 

 government. They were just as self-evident to the British officials as to 

 Seward himself. Therefore, Great Britain not only did not refuse to 

 give consideration to our claims but, because of the continuance of the 

 Fenian turmoil, consented to arbitrate. Finally in 1870 the threat of a 

 general European war made Great Britain desirous of having us accept 

 the same principles of neutrality, in case of such a war, as we had 

 demanded that Great Britain enforce during our Civil War, and so she 

 laid down the stringent "three rules" by which the Alabama claims 

 should be arbitrated. Applying these rules, the Geneva Tribunal 

 made us the $15,000,000 award. Indeed, the whole treaty of Wash- 

 ington was, in a measure, the result of this desire on the part of the 

 British to do away with the American support of Irish revolutions. The 

 British commissioner to the Treaty of Washington submitted the 

 claims of the people of Canada against the United States government 

 for loss in life, property, and expenditure occasioned by the invasions 

 into Canada. 2 The United State commissioners, however, refused 3 

 to consider these claims on two grounds : (1) that the preliminary negotia- 

 tions had said nothing about them, and (2) that the United States had 

 used due diligence in suppressing the invasion, citing as evidence the 

 contemporary testimony of the Canadian and English authorities 

 themselves. 



1 Diplomatic Correspondence, 1868, Vol. I, p. 142. 



' Moore, International Relations, Vol. I, pp. 686, 687. 



' Moore, International Arbitrations, Vol. I, p. 687. 



