No. 306.
Mr. Hoppin
to Mr. Evarts.
Legation of
the United States,
London, April 24, 1880.
(Received May 5.)
No. 180.]
Sir: I have the honor to acquaint you that at four
o’clock in the afternoon of the 21st instant, I received from Mr. Nunn, the
vice-consul
[Page 477]
general of the United
States, an original telegram purporting to be addressed by E. P. Brooks,
United States consul at Queenstown (Cork), to the consul-general in London,
complaining that British custom-house officers had been put on board of the
frigate Constellation, at Queens-town, notwithstanding the protest of
Captain Potter, and conveying the latter’s request to the consul-general to
obtain an order for their removal.
I thereupon wrote to Mr. Nunn that I should address a note to the foreign
office on the subject.
I accordingly at once wrote to Lord Salisbury stating the information I had
received, expressing a hope that the proceedings at Queenstown would be
satisfactorily explained, and asking him to procure an order from the proper
authorities, directing the officers of customs to leave the frigate.
I also immediately on the same afternoon telegraphed to Captain Potter at
Queenstown the action I had taken in this matter. On the 23d instant, I
received a note from Mr. Lister (for the Marquis of Salisbury), stating that
he had referred my communication to the proper department of Her Majesty’s
Government, with the request that immediate effect might be given to my
wishes, and that he should address me again on the subject.
I have received no further communications on this subject.
I inclose a copy of the correspondence.
I have, &c.,
[Inclosure 1 in No. 180.]
Mr. Hoppin to the
Marquis of Salisbury.
Legation of the United States,
London, April 21,
1880.
Immediate.]
My Lord: I have the honor to acquaint you that
the frigate Constellation, a duly commissioned ship of war of the United
States, which has been directed by my government to convey a portion of
the supplies contributed by the citizens of the United States for the
relief of the destitute people of Ireland, has just arrived at
Queenstown. I am informed by a telegram addressed by Mr. E. P. Brooks,
the consul of the United States at Cork, to the consul-general of the
United States in London, that certain officers of Her Majesty’s customs
have been placed on board of the Constellation by the receiver of
customs at Queenstown, and that the frigate is treated like an ordinary
merchant vessel.
It is further stated that Captain Potter, in command of the
Constellation, protested against this proceeding and has also complained
of it to the admiral of the station. I am also informed that, at the
request of the United States consul, the customs officers left the
frigate yesterday, but that they afterwards returned, and were, at the
date of his telegram, still on board of her.
I cannot but hope that some satisfactory explanation may be made of these
proceedings, and in the meantime I have the honor to request that an
order may be issued by the proper authorities directing the customs
officers to leave the frigate.
I have, &c.,
[Inclosure 2 in No. 180.]
Copy of telegram handed in at the Queenstown office
at 12.57 p.m., received at the Gresham House
branch office, London, at 2.29 p.m., from E.
P. Brooks, United States consul, April 21, 1880.
Queenstown, Cork. [undated].
To the Consul-General of the United
States, London:
Custom-house officers were placed on board Constellation by order customs
receiver. She is treated by customs as if an ordinary merchant vessel.
Captain Potter protested
[Page 478]
and
complained to the admiral, who agreed with him that the proceeding was
contrary to what should be expected under the circumstances.
At my request the officers left yesterday, but have since returned, and
now are on board.
Captain Potter requests me to advise you of this, and requests you will
obtain an order from the customs for their removal. The customs people
were distinctly told that the Constellation is a duly commissioned war
ship of the United States. Please telegraph reply.
Copy of paper accompanying the above telegram, 3.15 o’clock.
Respectfully submitted by—
J. NUNN,
U. S. Vice Consul-General,
London.
[Inclosure 3 in No. 180.]
Copy of telegram sent April 21, 1880, at 5 p.m.
To Captain Potter,
U. S. S. Constellation, Queenstown, Ireland:
I have written to Lord Salisbury for order to remove customs officers
from frigate.
[Inclosure 4 in No. 180.]
Mr. Lister to Mr.
Hoppin.
Foreign
Office, April 22,
1880.
Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the
receipt of your letter of yesterday’s date, stating that, from
information received by you, it would appear that on the arrival at
Queenstown of the United States ship Constellation, conveying supplies
contributed by citizens of the United States for the relief of the
destitute people of Ireland, the receiver of customs at that port placed
custom-house officers on board the frigate, and that although, at the
request of the United States consul at Cork, the customs officers left,
they afterwards returned, and are by last advices still on board, and I
have to state to you that I have referred your communication to the
proper department of Her Majesty’s Government, with a request that
immediate effect may be given to your wishes.
I shall, on receiving a reply, have the honor of addressing a further
communication to you upon the subject.
I have, &c.,
For the Marquis of Salisbury.
T. V.
LISTER.
