Alabama question

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The Alabama question (English Alabama claims : " Alabama claims ") refers to a conflict between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and the United States after the end of the Civil War . It was named after a southern privateer , the Alabama . The USA asserted that England was liable for the damage caused by the privateers of the southern states, insofar as they were equipped and manned in England. These included next to the Alabama , the Florida , the Georgia , the Rappahannock and the Shenandoah .

The US demanded compensation for all direct and indirect damage. Claims ranging from hundreds of millions to over two billion dollars have been made. The issue at times became so dangerous that there was a risk of war. In February 1871, the two powers agreed to bring the conflict to international arbitration. This agreement was signed in the Treaty of Washington on May 8, 1871 .

The arbitral tribunal began its work in Geneva in January 1872 . Italy (Count Federigo Sclopis ) presided . In addition to the parties, Brazil ( Marcos Antonio d'Araujao , Baron von Itajuba ) and Switzerland ( Jakob Stämpfli ) also sent a representative. On September 14, 1872, an agreement was reached in the Geneva arbitration award . The US waived the reimbursement of indirect damage, England recognized the principle that a neutral country has a duty of care with respect to ships equipped in its ports and is liable for damage caused to a warring nation. The compensation was set at $ 15.5 million in gold.

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