Mr. Hay to Mr.
Cambon.
Department of State,
Washington, January 14,
1902.
No. 440.]
Excellency: Referring again to Mr. de
Margerie’s notes of November 24 and December 22 last, I have now the
honor to inform you that the Attorney-General has caused the provisions
of Articles VIII and IX of the consular convention of 1853 with France
to be brought to the attention of the officers of his Department on the
Pacific coast, and has directed them to be guided by the terms of the
convention.
He has further directed the United States district attorney for Oregon to
report fully the facts in the case of the Amiral
Cornulier, and will address me further upon its receipt.
I inclose, as showing the desire of the municipal officers in the State
of California to comply with the provisions of the convention, copies of
letters to the governor of that State, forwarded by him on the 3d
instant.
Accept, etc.,
[Inclosure 1.]
Chief of police of San
Francisco to the governor of
California.
San
Francisco, December 16,
1901.
Sir: Your communication of December 12,
inclosing copy of a letter from the Hon. John Hay, Secretary of
State, and translation of complaint from P. de Margerie stating that
the authorities at this city and county were not observing the
provisions of the consular convention entered into between the
United States and the French Republic on February 23, 1853, I have
the honor to inclose for your information a lista of persons arrested at this
port and held on the request of the French consul since October 7,
1901, to date.
I would further say that this department has done all it could to
assist the masters of French vessels and the French consul in
observing the aforesaid provisions, and have gone further, inasmuch
as that on several occasions masters of French vessels have been
given an order to the police to arrest anyone pointed out by them as
deserters, and every courtesy has been extended them. On one
occasion, when the ship La Bruyere left this
port and was at Port Costa (outside the jurisdiction of this
department), one August Briand was detained until the ship returned
to this port: and as to detailing officers on wharves during
strikes, at the request of captains of ships, this is a matter in
which this department can only supply protection in accordance with
its strength, and there is nothing in the consular provisions of the
United States directing municipal authorities to go aboard any
French ship for the purpose of preventing desertion or disturbance.
We can assure you that this department is ever willing to assist in
any manner the French consul in carrying out the aforesaid
provisions.
Very respectfully,
Geo. W. Wittman, Chief of Police.
[Inclosure 2.]
District attorney of Alameda
County, Cal., to the governor of
California.
Oakland, Cal., December 17, 1901.
Sir: Your esteemed favor of December 12 has
been received at this office. No violations of Articles VIII and IX
of the consular convention of 1853 between the Governments of the
United States of America and France have, before your communication,
been called to the attention of this office since my incumbency of
the same.
[Page 398]
We will be pleased at any time to render such assistance as may rest
in the power of this office to effect a compliance with the
provisions of the consular convention mentioned in your esteemed
favor.
Your excellency’s most obedient servant,
John J. Allen,
District Attorney of Alameda
County.
[Inclosure 3.]
Judge of superior court of
Alameda County to the governor of
California.
Oakland, Cal., December 21, 1901.
Sir: I am in receipt of the communication
of Mr. Foley of December 12 relative to violations of the consular
convention between the Governments of the United States of America
and France, and in respect thereto would say that if any such
violations are called to my attention I will most willingly do
everything in my power to insure the proper enforcement of the
provisions of said convention.
I have, etc.,
Henry A. Melvin,
Judge of the Superior
Court.
