Office of the Historian

No. 188.
Mr. Welsh to Mr. Evarts.

Legation of the United States,
London, December 6, 1878.
No. 183.]

Sir: I have the honor to inform you that I am requested by Lord Salisbury to bring to your notice the inclosed circular of Sir M. E. Hicks Beach, Her Majesty’s secretary of state for the colonies, in which it is announced the British Government have decided to make it a rule that in future public officers shall not be allowed to act in a consular capacity for other states.

I have the honor to be, with great respect, your obedient servant,

JOHN WELSH.
[Inclosure in No. 183.]

circular.

Downing Street, October 24, 1878.

Sir: An application having been recently made for the recognition of an officer in the government service of one of the colonies as consul of a foreign state, I have the honor to inform you that Her Majesty’s Government are of opinion that such appointments are undesirable, and have decided to make it the rule in future that public officers will not be allowed to act in a consular capacity for a foreign state.

I have the honor to be; sir, your most obedient, humble servant,

M. E. HICKS BEACH.

The Officer Administering the Government of——.