Mr. Bayard to Mr.
Gresham.
[Extract.]
Embassy
of the United States,
London, January 10,
1894. (Received January 18.)
No. 136.]
Sir: Referring to your Instruction No. 218 of
November 23, last, I have now the honor to transmit herewith copies of
the correspondence with the foreign office, in relation to the questions
involved therein.
The note of Lord Rosebery of the 28th ultimo contains a very explicit
reply and denial of the statement of the Board of Underwriters in New
York, and which as will be perceived was carefully presented by me to
the foreign office as the representations of that board, and not
otherwise.
It would of course have been quite inadmissible for the Government of the
United States to suggest any interference on a question so purely
domestic in its nature, as the removal or retention in office of a
British official.
[Page 286]
By the Official Gazette of December 29, last, the appointment of Charles
George Walpole, esq., to be chief justice of the Bahama Islands appears,
so that Mr. Yelverton is now functus officio.
I have, etc.,
[Inclosure 1 in No.
136.]
Mr. Bayard to
Lord Rosebery.
Embassy of the United States,
London, December 5, 1893.
My Lord: I have just received instructions
from the Secretary of State of the United States to crave your
Lordship’s attention to a condition of affairs in the Bahamas and
other British West India Islands, which is most prejudicial to
commerce generally and has resulted in great injury to the American
owners of vessels and cargoes, as well as to other vessels trading
in those regions. And I have the honor to inclose herewith a copy of
a letter received at the State Department from the president of the
Board of Underwriters, of New York, which contains a detailed
statement of injuries inflicted upon an American trading steamship
El Dorado, and, in addition thereto, the
president of the Board of Underwriters makes certain recommendations
in the interest of international commerce, which are appended to his
letter, and may possibly be of use to the officials of Her Majesty’s
Government who may take cognizance of the subject.
May I ask your Lordship to cause the matter referred to to be brought
to the consideration of the proper authorities, in the hope that
relief may follow.
I have, etc.,
[Inclosure 2 in No.
136.]
Lord Rosebery
to Mr. Bayard.
Foreign Office, December 28, 1893.
Your Excellency: With reference to my note
of the 7th instant, I have the honor to state that no complaints
have of late years reached the secretary of state of the colonies
bearing on injuries to wrecked vessels from inhabitants of British
colonies.
Should any such complaints be made and redress not be obtained in the
colonial courts, the matter would of course be investigated by Her
Majesty’s Government.
As regards the Bahamas, the Board of Underwriters in New York appear
to have been misinformed, as neither of the chief justices referred
to has been assailed on account of his admiralty decisions. The
questions affecting the late Chief Justice Yelverton, which were
brought before the privy council, had no connection with the case of
the El Dorado, nor with any other admiralty
matter, and so far as the secretary of state for the colonies is
aware, Mr. Yelverton’s decision in that case has never been
impugned.
I have, etc.,
