No. 198.
Mr. Welsh
to Mr. Evarts.
Legation of
the United States,
London, June 17, 1879.
(Received June 30.)
No. 298.]
Sir: Referring to your dispatch No. 258, of the
25th of March last, concerning the seizure, in the harbor of Zanzibar, of
three negroes from on board the American whaling-bark Laconia, on the ground
of their being slaves, by order of Captain Earle, senior naval officer of
the British fleet on that station, I have the honor to inform you that,
immediately upon its receipt, I addressed to Lord Salisbury a note
containing the substance of your dispatch, and transmitting copies of its
inclosures. I inclose a copy of that note. I inclose also a copy of a note
from Lord Salisbury, acknowledging its receipt, and I inclose a copy of his
final reply, stating the disapproval of the British Government of Captain
Earle’s action, expressing regret at its occurrence, and requesting that
this expression should be conveyed to the United States Government.
I have, &c.,
[Inclosure 1 in No. 298.]
Mr. Welsh to the
Marquis of Salisbury.
Legation of the United States,
London, April 9,
1879.
My Lord: I have the honor to inclose herewith a
copy of a dispatch from the United States consul at Zanzibar to the
Department of State, and of the correspondence
[Page 432]
which accompanied it, between that officer and the
British consul-general there, relating to the seizure, on the ground of
their being slaves, of three negroes from on board the American
whaling-bark Laconia, of New Bedford, Mass., by order of Captain Earle,
senior naval officer of the British fleet on that station.
I am instructed by my government to bring the matter to your lordship’s
attention, and to state that the search for the purpose herein named
appears to have been without probable cause, and that, as it was made in
violation of the provisions of the first article of the treaty of 1882,
it is expected that the British officer who ordered the search will be
held accountable therefor by his government.
I have, &c.,
[Inclosure 2 in No. 298.]
The Marquis of Salisbury
to Mr. Welsh.
Foreign
Office, April 24,
1879.
Sir: I beg leave to acknowledge the receipt of
the letter which you did me the honor to address to me on the 9th
instant, on the subject of the removal by direction of the commander of
Her Majesty’s ship London, on the ground of their being slaves, of three
negroes from the United States whaling-bark Laconia, in Zanzibar harbor,
in the month of December last; and I beg leave to acquaint you that this
matter is under the consideration of the proper department of Her
Majesty’s Government, and that I shall have the honor of addressing you
further on the subject in a few days.
I have, &c.,
[Inclosure 3 in No. 298.]
The Marquis of Salisbury
to Mr. Welsh.
Foreign
Office, June 14,
1879.
Sir: With reference to the letter which I had
the honor to address to you on the 24th of April last, on the subject of
the boarding of the United States bark Laconia, in Zanzibar harbor, by a
boat from Her Majesty’s ship London, and the removal therefrom of three
negroes on suspicion that they were slaves, I now beg leave to inform
you that, having carefully considered the circumstances of the case, Her
Majesty’s Government have come to the conclusion that Captain Earle was
not justified in taking measures to search an American vessel or to
inquire into the status of negroes who might be on board in a harbor
where there were constituted and responsible local authorities, and
where moreover there was a resident American consul.
The conduct of the commander of the London in this case will, therefore,
be disapproved, and he will be admonished to be more careful in
future.
In informing you of the decision come to by Her Majesty’s Government in
this case I have at the same time to express the regret of Her Majesty’s
Government at the occurrence, and to request that you will be good
enough to convey this expression of regret to the United States
Government at Washington.
I have, &c.,
