Mr. Eustis to Mr. Olney.
Reply to your two cables received November.28. I meant to say that I am not likely to be refused inspection of the record in the manner mentioned in my cable of October 17. Our original application was for the charges, the evidence, and the sentence. We got the charges and the sentence, and were refused the evidence. Mr. Hanotaux’s offer was that I could personally look into the evidence to satisfy myself that it supported the charges upon which Waller was condemned. It is plain that he expected I would convey to my Government the impression made upon me by the proposed inspection, otherwise the offer would have no object. At any rate no restrictions were made, and if the present minister makes none I would consider myself free to report to you. I am endeavoring to ascertain the views of present minister, who is ill, and shall report as soon as possible, but this inspection, if still allowed and availed of, will add nothing to our knowledge as to the legal validity of the proceedings of the court. Our only means of judging of this is the official copy of the sentence which is in our hands, and which states the charges, recites proceedings of the court, and quotes the law. I propose to consult on this point Mr. Clunet.