No. 161.
General Schenck to Mr. Fish.
London, May 1, 1873. (Received May 14.)
Sir: In conformity with the instructions contained in your No. 362, I have had some conversation with Earl Granville in regard to resuming the attempt to agree on the terms of a consular convention between our two governments.
The way appears to me to be now cleared for a satisfactory consideration of the subject, and I believe nothing has been lost by delay. His lordship, although giving no decided expression of opinion, but intimating a necessity he would be under of some preliminary examinations and study of the questions involved, appeared to sincerely concur in the view that it is desirable and will be wise to establish rules defining and regulating the powers and duties of consuls of one country within the territory of the other.
[Page 357]I recapitulated briefly the history and progressive steps of the negotiation up to the time, in September, 1870, when reason was given to expect that a draft of a convention or counter-project to that submitted by Mr. Motley would be brought forward by Her Majesty’s government. Lord Granville promised to give the subject attention again at his earliest convenience, and after he should have time for conference with the board of trade.
No discussion was held, in this conversation, on any particular provision or principle to be embodied in a proposed convention; but I took occasion, as instructed last year in your No. 9, to suggest that among articles to be adopted there ought to be one providing for the administration of oaths by the consuls of one country residing in the other.
His lordship made a note of this point.
I have, &c.,