Mr. Hay to Mr.
Day.
American Embassy,
London, June 1,
1898.
No. 412.]
Sir: Referring to my dispatch No. 407 of the
24th of May, and to my cabled dispatch of the 26th of May, I now have
the honor to transmit a copy of a note just received from the Marquis of
Salisbury, in which he informs me that he has consulted the lord
chancellor and the attorney and the solicitor general in regard to our
request that landing facilities at Hongkong should be granted to an
American cable from Manila, and expresses his regret that as he is
advised Her Majesty’s Government is not at liberty to comply with the
proposal of the Government of the United States.
As you will have learned by my cable dispatch, I had anticipated this
decision. My conversation with high diplomatic and legal authorities had
convinced me that they could not authorize us to land a cable at
Hongkong without a breach of neutrality.
I am, etc.,
[Inclosure.]
Lord Salisbury to
Mr. Hay.
Foreign Office, May
27, 1898.
Your Excellency: You expressed to me on
Monday last the desire of the United States Government that a cable
should be laid from Manila to Hongkong, and requested that Her
Majesty’s Government would grant landing facilities at Hongkong for
that purpose. You informed me that the United States Government had
been desirous of employing the agency of the Eastern Telegraph
Company for the conveyance of their messages, but that the company
had been compelled to refuse their application by an intimation from
the Spanish Government that the concessions of the company would be
forfeited if they assented to it. I have consulted the lord
chancellor and the attorney and solicitor general in respect to your
excellency’s communication, and regret to inform you that as I am
advised Her Majesty’s Government is not at liberty to comply with
the proposal of the Government of the United States.
I have, etc.,
