Mr. Choate to Mr.
Hay.
American Embassy,
London, April 14,
1900.
No. 302.]
Sir: With reference to your instruction 314, of
the 21st February last, respecting Messrs. Peabody & Co.’s shipments
on the Mashona and Maria,
I have the honor to inclose herewith copies of a note from Mr. White to
Lord Salisbury in relation thereto, and of the reply from the foreign
office, which I have just received.
I have, etc.,
[Inclosure 1.]
Mr. White to
the Marquis of Salisbury.
American Embassy,
London, March 17,
1900.
My Lord: With reference to Mr. Choate’s
note to your Lordship of the 4th of January last, and to subsequent
correspondence, in relation to the steamship Mashona, which was seized by the British authorities in
South Africa, I have the honor to inclose a copy of a letter from
Messrs. H. W. Peabody & Co., dated the 13th ultimo, together
with copies of bills of lading and invoices properly signed and
attested, to which the same refers, covering the entire list of the
shipments of Messrs. Henry W. Peabody & Co., American merchants,
by the Mashona, with a view to the protection
of their interests in the event of their making a loss as the result
of the seizure of that vessel.
I also have the honor to inclose a copy of a further communication
from Messrs. H. W. Peabody & Co. to the Secretary of State of
the United States, dated the 26th of January last, relative to
copies of invoices and bills of lading covering merchandise shipped
by them on the steamship Maria and Mashona. A copy of an affidavit of Mr.
Charles D. Barry, a member of that firm, attesting the genuineness
of the shipments is also inclosed herewith, together with the copies
of invoices and bills of lading already referred to.
I have, etc.,
[Inclosure 2.]
Lord Salisbury
to Mr. White.
Foreign Office,
London, April 9,
1900.
Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the
receipt of your note of the 17th ultimo, respecting Messrs. Peabody
& Co.’s shipments by the Mashona and the
Maria. A copy of this note and its
inclosures will be forwarded to the high commissioner for South
Africa.
[Page 612]
The information now given is still not sufficiently ample to allow of
the determination of the question who ought to be paid for such
goods as are covered by the undertaking of Her Majesty’s Government
to buy the flour and any other articles of use to the military
authorities.
I have, etc.,
