Lord Pauneefote to Mr. Hay.
Sir: Referring to your note No. 1612 of the 11th instant, and to previous correspondence with Mr. Tower on the subject of remitting money to British prisoners in the Transvaal, I have the honor, acting upon the instruction of my Government, to suggest, for the consideration of your Government, that the United States consul at Pretoria should point out to the Transvaal Government that they are departing from the usual practice in not allowing the friendly offices of the United States consul to be used on behalf of these prisoners. Lord Salisbury calls attention to the fact that during the Crimean war moneys for British prisoners in Russia and for Russian prisoners in England were distributed through the Danish representatives in St. Petersburg and London. Further, that during the Franco-Prussian war moneys were handed to the French prisoners in Germany through the British representative in Germany, and French prisoners were allowed to send their letters to France from Germany through the British foreign office.
Lord Salisbury desires me to add that it is understood that reciprocal privileges would of course be granted to Boer prisoners in our hands.
I have the honor, etc.,