No. 445.
Mr. Rublee to Mr. Fish.
Legation of
the United States,
Berne, November 4,
1872.
No. 109.]
Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the
receipt, on the 1st instant, of your dispatch, No. 92, of October 10,
instructing me to communicate to the government of the Swiss
Confederation the expression of the grateful appreciation, by the
President of the United States, of the friendly act of the President of
that confederation in naming one of the members of the tribunal of
arbitration for the settlement of the Alabama claims, and of the high
character and eminent services of the arbitrator thus named, and of the
hospitalities and courtesies extended to the tribunal of arbitration,
and to those who represented the interests of the Government of the
United States in connection with it, by the federal council of
Switzerland, and by the authorities and citizens of Geneva.
In accordance with your instructions, I called, to-day, upon the
President of the confederation, who had just returned from a temporary
absence, and communicated to him the sentiments expressed by the
President of the United States, and left with him a note, a copy of
which is transmitted herewith, in which I had embodied the substance of
your dispatch.
I am, &c.,
Mr. Rublee’s note to the President of the
Confederation.
Legation of the United States,
Berne, November 1, 1872.
The tribunal of arbitration, appointed agreeably the provisions of
the treaty of Washington, of the 8th of May, 1871, having concluded
its deliberations and pronounced its final decision, at Geneva, on
the 14th September last, the undersigned, minister resident of the
United States of America to Switzerland, has been instructed by his
Government to make known to the government of Switzerland that the
President of the United States most highly appreciates the
obligation of the United States, in common with Great Britain, to
the friendly governments which have rendered assistance in the
determination of the grave international questions that were at
issue.
[Page 650]
This obligation has been enhanced by the high character and elevated
positions of the eminent gentlemen named as arbitrators by these
governments. The learning, the industry, the ability, and the
impartiality which those gentlemen have displayed have made a
profound impression upon the President, and have not only
contributed, in an essential degree, to the satisfactory conclusion
of the pending questions in which two governments were interested,
but must have a powerful effect in commending the principle of
arbitration to the attention of the civilized world as an effective
method of adjusting many international disputes hereafter.
In addition to the expression of his appreciation of the friendly act
of the President of Switzerland in naming one of the arbitrators,
and of the high character and eminent services of the arbitrator
thus named, the President of the United States desires to
acknowledge the indebtedness of the United States to the federal
council for the hospitality with which the tribunal of arbitration,
before which the United States were a party, was received within the
territory of the republic, and for many hospitalities and liberal
courtesies extended to the agents and counsel of the United
States.
To the government of Geneva the President of the United States
desires also to express his grateful appreciation of their
voluntarily placing the hall of the Hotel de Ville of the city of
Geneva at the disposition of the tribunal for its sittings, and for
the courtesies of the authorities and of the citizens of that
beautiful city and canton, extended to those who represented the
interests of the Government of the United States in connection with
the tribunal; and for the reception, for preservation, among their
own archives, of the archives of the tribunal.
The President of the United States requests that the President of
Switzerland will kindly convey to the Hon. Mr. Stámpfli his thanks,
and will communicate to him the high opinion entertained by the
President of the United States of his character and services as one
of the arbitrators, and to the federal council and to the government
of Geneva, the sentiments which are above expressed; and to Mr.
Favrot his appreciation of the able manner in which he discharged
the arduous duties of secretary to the tribunal.
The undersigned seizes this occasion to renew to your excellency and
to the members of the high federal council the expression of his
highest consideration.
His Excellency the Honorable D. Emil
Welti,
President of the Swiss
Confederation, Berne.
