Mr. Choate to Mr.
Hay.
American Embassy,
London
,
October 27,
1900
.
No. 418.]
Sir: With reference to your instruction No.
468, of the 16th instant, I have the honor to inclose herewith a copy of
a note which, on the 25th instant, I addressed to Her Majesty’s
secretary of state for foreign affairs.
I have, etc.,
[Page 465]
[Inclosure.]
Mr. Choate to
Lord Salisbury.
American Embassy,
London
,
October 25,
1900
.
My Lord: I have the honor to inform your
lordship that my Government has been informed by the United States
consul at Colombo, Ceylon, that among the prisoners captured by the
British troops in South Africa and deported to an encampment at
Diyatalawa, in the island of Ceylon, are 22 men claiming to be
American citizens, but as the consul was denied access to these men
my Government is without confirmation of their claim to citizenship.
The consul’s report is, however, so circumstantial that my
Government deems it its duty to ascertain the facts. From Mr. John
J. Hearn, a man of business residing in Westfield, Mass., and
vouched for as a man of character and standing by the Hon. George P.
Lawrence, a member of Congress from that State, it has been
ascertained that one of the prisoners mentioned is his brother, F.
H. Hearn. The names of the others are at present unknown.
I am therefore instructed to ask at your lordship’s hands an early
inquiry into the correctness of the consul’s report, and am
prepared, if it turns out that the prisoners referred to are
American citizens, to present to your lordship considerations which
would probably lead to their removal to a more healthful station,
and perhaps to their discharge, either freely or on parole.
I have, etc.,
