Geneva Arbitration - Definition - Law Dictionary Home Dictionary Definition geneva-arbitration

Definition :

Geneva arbitration, an arbitration held at Geneva to determine the extent of the liability of the British Government for having allowed the Alabama, a man-of-war built in the Mersey for the Confederate States, to put to sea, where she preyed on the commerce of the United States. The British Government admitted liability, and the only question was as to the amount of the damage which were ultimately fixed by the arbitrators at 3,229,166l. The five arbitrators were nominated by Great Britain, the United States, Italy, Switzerland, and Brazil. The British arbitrator was Sir Alexander Cockburn, LCJ, and the counsel who appeared for the British Government were Sir Roundell Palmer and Mr. Arthur Cohen. The arbitrators met on 17th December, 1871, and made their award on 15th September, 1872. See Memorials of the Earl of Selborne, vol. ii, ch. 55.