THE LAIRD RAMS The building in British ports of Confederate war vessels like the _Alabama_ and the subsequent controversy and arbitration in relation thereto have been exhaustively studied and discussed from every aspect of legal responsibility, diplomatic relations, and principles of international law.

There is no need and no purpose here to review in detail these matters.

The purpose is, rather, to consider the development and effect at the time of their occurrence of the principal incidents related to Southern ship-building in British yards.

The _intention_ of the British Government is of greater importance in this study than the correctness of its action.
Yet it must first be understood that the whole question of a belligerent's right to procure ships of war or to build them in the ports of neutral nations was, in 1860, still lacking definite application in international law.

There were general principles already established that the neutral must not do, nor permit its subjects to do, anything directly in aid of belligerents.