Mr. Barrett to Mr.
Sherman.
Legation of the United States,
Bangkok, June 22,
1897.
No. 212.]Sir: I have the honor to inclose copies of
letters exchanged with Mr. George Greville, British minister, and with
his royal highness the foreign minister, in regard to the expenses and
honorarium of the arbitrator in the Cheek case, Sir Nicholas Hannen.
The substance of the correspondence is that Sir Nicholas Hannen thinks
that, for the convenience of all parties, it would be best to include
expenses and honorarium in one fee of 10 guineas a day for the time he
is necessarily absent from Shanghai, to which the Siamese foreign
minister and myself have, of course, agreed.
According to Sir Nicholas Hannen’s arrangements and our own, it would
appear that the arbitration court would sit about the 13th of December.
The arbitrator is due to arrive in Singapore on December 8, and should
reach here approximately on the 13th. His absence from Shanghai will
probably be from fifty to sixty days, making his total fee from $2,500
to $3,000, of which, according to your instructions, the United States
will pay half.
I have the honor to be, etc.,
John Barrett,
Minister Resident.
[Inclosure 1 in No.
212.]
Mr. Greville to
Mr. Barrett.
Mr. Minister: I have the honor to inform
you that I have received a letter from Sir N. Hannen, Her Majesty’s
chief justice and consul-general at Shanghai, who has accepted to
act as arbitrator in the Cheek estate claims, stating that he thinks
it will be for the convenience of all parties that expenses and
honorarium should be included in one fee.
Sir N. Hannen thinks that 10 guineas a day, during such time as he
may be necessarily absent from Shanghai, will be a proper fee for
him to charge.
This fee will cover everything, unless Sir N. Hannen should be
compelled to travel away from Bangkok into the interior, for the
purposes of the arbitration, in which case he would expect that the
expenses of such journey be defrayed by the Siamese Government.
Should these terms be agreed upon, Sir N. Hannen will be prepared to
leave Shanghai by the Pacific and Oriental steamer of the 27th of
[Page 476]
November next, due in
Singapore December 8, and he would proceed to Bangkok by earliest
opportunity.
Should these terms be agreed to, I should be much obliged if you
would be so good as to inform me thereof, so that I may communicate
the result to Sir N. Hannen by telegraph.
I take this opportunity, etc.,
[Inclosure 2 in No.
212.]
Mr. Barrett to
Prince Devawongse.
United States Legation,
Bangkok. Siam, June 19, 1897.
Mr. Minister: I have the honor to append a
copy of a letter received this day from Mr. George Greville, Her
Britannic Majesty’s minister resident, in regard to the expenses and
honorarium of Sir N. Hannen, Her Britannic Majesty’s chief justice
and consul-general at Shanghai, in the capacity of arbitrator of the
Cheek case.
Your royal highness will please note that Sir N. Hannen thinks that
10 guineas a day would be a proper amount for him to charge.
This arrangement is acceptable to me; and, if it is the same to you,
will you be good enough to inform me at once in order that I may
communicate with Mr. Greville and enable him, as he desires, to
telegraph Sir N. Hannen?
Your royal highness will please accept my renewed assurance of high
consideration.
I have the honor, etc.,
John Barrett,
Minister Resident.
[Inclosure 3. in No.
212.]
Prince Devawongse to Mr. Barrett.
Foreign Office, June 20, 1897.
Mr. Minister: In acknowledging with thanks
the receipt of your kind communication of yesterday, with reference
to Mr. George Greville’s letter to you concerning the expenses and
honorarium of Sir N. Hannen, Her Britannic Majesty’s chief justice
and consul general at Shanghai, in the capacity of arbitrator of the
Cheek case, and in which you kindly state that the arrangement is
acceptable to you, and asking me to give you my reply, I beg to say,
that on my part I see no objection to the terms mentioned in the
note of Mr. George Greville, who has also kindly written to me an
identical note on the same subject, except that whatever may be the
stipulations expressed therein, our agreement is that we each share
one-half of all the expenses and fees of Sir N. Hannen, till further
understanding.
I have therefore written to the British minister resident, accepting
in my own name as well as yours, the terms of Sir N. Hannen, and I
inclose the letter opened under this cover, so that you may send it,
if you will kindly do so, when you send your reply to Mr. George
Greville.
Accept, Mr. Minister, etc.,
Devawongse,
Minister for Foreign
Affairs.
[Inclosure 4 in No.
212.]
Mr. Barrett to
Mr. Greville.
United States Legation,
Bangkok, Siam, June 21, 1897.
My Dear Colleague: I have the honor to
acknowledge the receipt of your esteemed note of June 19, informing
me of the terms which his excellency, Sir Nicholas Hannen, Her
Britannic Majesty’s chief justice and consul-general at Shanghai,
who has accepted the invitation of His Royal Highness Prince
Devawongse, the Siamese foreign minister, and myself to act as
arbitrator in the Cheek case, deems will be for the convenience of
all parties, viz, that expenses and honorarium should be included in
one fee of 10 guineas a day during such time as he may be
necessarily absent from Shanghai.
I beg to state that such terms are perfectly acceptable to the United
States Government, and to the Cheek estate, and I am informed in a
letter from his royal highness, the Siamese foreign minister,
written in response to one of inquiry from me, that they are also
acceptable to the Siamese Government.
He is good enough to forward, through me, his reply to a letter of
yours addressed to him on the same subject, which you will find
inclosed.
You will please therefore be good enough to telegraph his excellency,
Sir Nicholas Hannen, accordingly, as kindly proposed by you.
The time which he suggests coming to Bangkok would appear agreeable
to all parties. If unexpected conditions cause any modification of
plans, we will duly notify him through your kind offices.
It may be of interest for me to state that I have just received full
instructions from my Government, as to the formal protocol to be
drawn up between the Siamese and the United States Governments
covering this agreement, and I shall, at a very early date,
negotiate with the foreign minister on the matter. As soon as it is
duly signed, we shall be pleased to provide you with a copy to be
forwarded to his excellency, Sir Nicholas Hannen.
If at any time, he or you desires further information on any point, I
am sure that either the Siamese foreign minister or myself will be
glad to acquaint you with such.
Expressing on behalf of my Government, which is taking great interest
in this case, its pleasure in his excellency, Sir Nicholas Hannen’s
acceptance of the position of arbitrator, in which I know likewise
the Siamese Government joins, and thanking you for the assistance of
yourself and Mr. Archer in making arrangements,
I have the honor to remain, my dear colleague, etc.,
John Barrett,
United States Minister
Resident.
