No. 311.
Mr. Lowell
to Mr. Evarts.
Legation of
the United States,
London, August 6, 1880.
(Received August 19.)
No. 35.]
Sir: On the 2d of December last, Captain Tukey, of
the American merchant ship Normandy, wrote to Mr. Hoppin, at that time
chargé d’affaires, calling attention to the disadvantage in the London
freight market suffered by American vessels on account of their exclusion
from the conveyance of British Government stores. It was said by Captain
Tukey that an exception had been made in the case of the Italian ship
Manilla, and it was suggested that admission to this trade might be obtained
for American vessels. On the 23d of December last, Mr. Hoppin addressed a
note to the British Government on this subject, to which I have just
received a reply. The reply states the decision of the Indian council not to
alter the present practice of chartering or employing for the conveyance of
stores to India vessels only that sail under the British flag. I inclose
herewith copies of the notes of Mr. Hoppin and Earl Granville and of the
letter of Captain Tukey, thinking that the correspondence may be of interest
to the Department.
I have, &c.,
[Page 485]
[Inclosure 1 in No. 35.]
Mr. Hoppin to the
Marquis of Salisbury.
Legation of the United States,
London, December 23,
1879.
My Lord: I have the honor to ask your
lordship’s attention to a letter, a copy of which I inclose herewith,
addressed to me by Captain Tukey, of the American merchant ship
Normandy.
It seems it is customary for the honorable council for India, to send
government stores to that country by British ships only. I am informed
that there is no law excluding foreign bottoms; but it is judged more
convenient in case of any reclamation against master and owners that
they should be within the jurisdiction of the British courts.
Captain Tukey suggests that this difficulty maybe entirely obviated by a
bond or other security, to be given by responsible British subjects to
the shippers, guaranteeing them against any loss or damage.
I venture to ask your lordship whether it may not be possible for the
vessels of the United States to obtain a share of this business upon
furnishing the indemnity above mentioned.
It seems, from Captain Tukey’s statement, that the custom of employing
British bottoms only has recently been departed from in the case of an
Italian ship, the Manilla, and if foreign vessels are ever to be used,
there is no reason why those of my own country, which are staunch,
strong, and well found, and will pass the most rigid inspection, should
not also be chartered.
I should hesitate in asking your lordship’s kind offices in presenting
this matter to the India board if it were not obvious that throwing open
the competition for this business to American bottoms would have a
tendency to diminish freights, and thus prove quite as advantageous to
the government shippers here as to my countrymen.
I have, &c.,
[Inclosure 2 in No. 35.]
Mr. Tukey to Mr.
Hoppin.
American Ship Normandy,
West
Jndia Dock, London, December 2, 1879.
Honorable Sir: I desire to bring under your
notice the fact that American ships are at a great disadvantage in the
London freight market, by being excluded from the conveyance of British
government stores.
I cannot find that any law exists with reference to this, beyond the fact
that it has been customary to ship by British vessels only, owing, I
presume to difficulties which might arise in the event of any
reclamations becoming chargeable, and proceedings having to be taken in
a foreign instead of an English court. This, however, could be
effectually met by a banker or broker, located here, becoming guarantee
on behalf of the ship and owners in America for any such claims.
I am induced to bring this matter under your notice, as I have been
compelled to take about £300 less freight under my present charter for
Bombay than was offering for a cargo for same destination of which
government stores formed a portion, whereas I find the custom of only
shipping by British vessels was recently departed from by the conveyance
of India in council stores under the Italian flag by a vessel called the
Manilla. Under these circumstances, I venture to hope it will only
require your representation to the British Government of the above facts
to have the United States flag placed upon the same footing.
I remain, &c.,
I. M. TUKEY,
Master of American Ship
Normandy.
[Inclosure 3 in No. 35.]
Earl Granville to
Mr. Lowell.
Foreign
Office, August 3,
1880.
Sir: My predecessor referred to the late
secretary of state for India in council, Mr. Hoppin’s letter of the 23d
of December last, together with its inclosure, relative to the
conveyance to India of government stores in foreign vessels, and I have
the honor
[Page 486]
to acquaint you that
a communication has been received in reply, stating the circumstances
set forth in Mr. Hoppin’s letter above referred to, have been very
carefully considered by the present secretary of state for India in
council, but that, having regard to the difficulties which might arise
through the employment of foreign vessels, it is not deemed expedient to
alter the present practice of chartering or employing for the conveyance
of stores to India, vessels only that sail under the British flag, which
it has been ascertained is in accordance with that pursued by the lords
commissioners of the admiralty and by the colonial governments.
It is added that the engagement of the Manilla, to which reference is
made by Mr. Hoppin, was quite exceptional, and was entered into to meet
a pressing difficulty in obtaining sufficient tonnage, a circumstance
which is not likely to recur.
I have, &c.,
