Mr. Durham to Mr. Foster.
Fort au Prince, January 23, 1893. (Received February 6.)
Sir: In order to close the record in the Mevs case to date, I have to report that the minister for foreign affairs visited me this morning and informed me that he was about to propose arbitration as the means of adjusting the matter, and that he desired to know how my Government would receive the proposition.
He said that he could discuss the case point for point, and that, though there might have been some trifling irregularities, he found no violation of the law whatever.
I told him to make his proposition and that it would be considered.
The record of this case at the Department is so clear that it seems to me not necessary to comment on the extraordinary statements made by the minister.
I await your orders and I have, etc.