Mr. Choate to Mr.
Hay.
American Embassy,
London, April 14,
1900.
No. 301.]
Sir: With reference to your instruction No. 311
of the 20th February last, in relation to Mr. R. M. Geldart’s shipments
on board the Beatrice, Mashona, and Maria, I have the honor to inclose herewith
copies of a note addressed by Mr. White to Lord Salisbury on the subject
and of a reply thereto, which has just been received from the foreign
office.
I have, etc.,
[Inclosure 1.]
Mr. White to
Marquis of Salisbury.
American Embassy,
London, March 17,
1900.
My Lord: With reference to Mr. Choate’s
note of the 4th of January last, in relation to the detention by the
British authorities in South Africa of merchandise shipped by Mr. R.
M. Geldart from New York to Delagoa Bay, under instructions from my
Government, I have the honor to inclose for your lordship’s further
information a copy of a letter from Mr. Geldart to the Secretary of
State of the United States, dated the 19th of January, and other
correspondence in regard to shipments made by the former on the
steamships Beatrice, Mashona, and Maria, respectively, together with a copy of
a bill of lading, invoice, and affidavit regarding the Maria’s cargo, to which the same refers.
It appears from Mr. Geldart’s affidavits, dated, the 19th of January,
that he is the shipper aboard the Maria of
100 cases of cotton-seed oil, each containing two five-gallon tins,
destined for Delagoa Bay.
I have, etc.,
[Page 611]
[Inclosure 2.]
Lord Salisbury
to Mr. White.
Foreign Office, April 10, 1900.
Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the
receipt of your note of the 17th ultimo respecting Mr. R. M.
Geldart’s shipments on board the Beatrice,
Mashona, and Maria, and to inform
you that it has been sent to the high commissioner for South
Africa.
I do not think that the British authorities will be able to meet Mr.
Geldart’s suggestion that the cotton-seed oil should be purchased by
them for the amount of the invoice price, together with a fair
profit on the transaction, as it appears to me unlikely that they
would be able to make any use of a vegetable oil of this nature.
I have, etc.,
