72 THE TREATY-OF WASHINGTON. 
““ We are ‘of opinion that the announcement this day made 
by the Tribunal must be received by the United States as de- 
terminative of its judgment on the question of public law in- 
volved, as to which the United States have. insisted on taking 
the opinion. of the Tribunal. We advise, therefore, that it 
should be submitted to, as precluding the-propriety of further 
insisting upon the claims covered by. this declaration of the 
Tribunal, and that the United States, with a view of maintain- 
ing the due course of the arbitration on the other claims with: 
out adjournment, should announce to the Tribunal that the 
said claims covered by its opinion will not be further insisted 
upon before the Tribunal by the United States, and may be 
excluded from all consideration by the Tribunal in making its 
award.” 
In response, the Secretary of State communicated 
the determination of the President, as follows: 
“T have laid your telegrams before the President, who di- 
rects me to say that he accepts the declaration of the Tr ribunal 
as its judgment upon a question of public law, which he had 
felt that the interests of both Governments required should 
be decided, and for the determination of which he had felt it 
important to present the claims referred to for the purpose of 
taking the opinion of the Tribunal. 
“This is the attainment of an end which this Government 
had in view in the putting forth of those claims. We had'no 
desire for a pecuniary award, but desired an expression by the 
Tribunal as to the liability of a neutral for claims of that char- 
acter. The President, therefore, further accepts the opinion 
and advice of the Counsel as set forth above, and authorizes 
the announcement to the Tribunal.that he accepts their decla- 
ration as determinative of their judgment upon the important 
question of public law as to which he had felt it his duty to 
seek the expression of.their opinion; and that, in accordancé 
with such judgment and opinion, from henéeforth he regards 
the claims set forth in the Case presented on the part. of the 
United States for loss in the transfer of the American commer- 
cial marine to the British.flag, the enhanced payment of insur- 
ance, and the prolongation of the war, and the addition’ of.a 
