Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, With the Annual Message of the President Transmitted to Congress December 2, 1902
Mr. Hay to Mr. Choate.
Washington, April 5, 1902.
Sir: Referring to Mr. White’s No. 710, of November 22 last, and to prior correspondence, I now inclose copies of correspondence relating further to James L. Molloy, detained as a prisoner of war in Bermuda.
You will ask that the consul of the United States at Hamilton, Bermuda, be afforded opportunity to obtain Molloy’s affidavit as to the circumstances of his alleged compulsory enlistment with the Boer forces.
I am, etc.,
Mr. Naphen to Mr. Hay.
Washington, January 16, 1902.
My Dear Sir: The inclosed letter this day received from the brother of James L. Molloy, who is now detained at Bermuda as a prisoner of war. From this you will see that Molloy was forced to enter the Boer army. I feel that under the circumstances, especially in view of the fact that he is sick, he is entitled to be paroled.
Very respectfully,
Mr. Molloy to Mr. Naphen.
Sir: In regard to my brother, who is an English prisoner of war on Morgans Island, Bermuda, I have just been in conversation with Mr. Tearney, a young man who was with my brother in South Africa. He received a letter from him yesterday, informing him that he was sick in the prison hospital. He also informs me that my brother was very anxious to come home with the rest of the corps the time they came, but that he was forced to join the Boer artillery or be shot. The letter that Mr. Tearney received from him has come through the British, and I have no reason to doubt but it is true. Hoping that you will use your valuable influence, and thanking you sincerely for what you have already done toward his release,
I am, etc.,
Mr. Peirce to Mr. Greene, Consul at Hamilton, Bermuda.
Washington, January 20, 1902.
Sir: I inclose herewith a copy of a lettera from Hon. Henry F. Naphen, a member of Congress, transmitting a letter from Hugh B. Molloy in regard to his brother, who is detained in Bermuda as a prisoner of war and who is reported to be ill in a hospital there.
You will ascertain the condition of Mr. Molloy, and whether his illness is of such a nature that his life is endangered by continuous confinement, and report to the Department.
I am, etc.,
Third Assistant Secretary.
Mr. Greene to Mr. Peirce.
Hamilton, Bermuda, February 12, 1902.
Sir: I have the honor to report, in answer to your dispatch No. 56, received on the 1st instant, concerning one Molloy, a prisoner of war in Bermuda, that I have received a letter from Maj. J. L. Ed ye, commandant of Port’s Island Hospital—to whom I had written for information—that I herewith quote:
“As regards prisoner of war J. L. Molloy, he is in excellent health, with the exception of an indolent ulcer on leg, which is now healing satisfactorily. No anxiety need be felt whatever as to the condition of prisoner of war Molloy, who, though naturally chafing under his present inactivity, is in first-rate condition—the local affection stated above being the only thing wrong with him, and that, as I have said, is progressing satisfactorily, and he will be able to leave hospital in a few weeks.”
This seems to cover the whole subject-matter of your dispatch.
I have, etc.,
Mr. Hay to Mr. Naphen.
Washington, February 25, 1902.
Sir: Referring to your letter of January 16 last, in regard to James L. Molloy, a prisoner of war at Hamilton, Bermuda, I have the honor to inclose copy of a dispatchb from the consul at Hamilton reporting that Mr. Molloy is in the hospital, but will be able to leave it in a few weeks.
I have, etc.,
Mr. Naphen to Mr. Hay.
Washington, March 1, 1902.
Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your communication of the 25th ultimo, relative to the case of James F. Molloy, a prisoner of war at Hamilton, Bermuda, and to invite your attention to my letter to you under date of January 16 last.
[Page 487]As you will notice, while I am grateful to you for your courtesy in furnishing me information relative to Mr. Molloy’s present condition, I still feel that if, as is claimed, Molloy was forced to enter the Boer army despite his wishes, he should be paroled.
May I ask whether any action can be taken by the State Department looking to this man’s liberation?
Very respectfully,
Mr. Adee to Mr. Greene.
Washington, March 6, 1902.
Sir: I have to call your attention to instruction No. 56, of January 20 last, transmitting a letter from Mr. Hugh B. Molloy, in which the claim is made that James L. Molloy, a prisoner of war at Bermuda, was forced to join the Boer army under a threat of being shot if he refused.
You will please procure Mr. Molloy’s affidavit of the facts of the case. The affidavit of Mr. Molloy should contain a complete statement of the circumstances of his joining the Boer army.
I am, etc.,
Second Assistant Secretary.
Mr. Greene to Mr. Adee.
Hamilton, Bermuda, March 21, 1902.
Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your dispatch No. 59, dated the 6th instant, concerning a prisoner of war named J. L. Molloy, detained in this colony, requesting me to secure his affidavit, with all detail as to his joining the Boer forces.
After an exchange of letters with the colonial secretary, as representing his excellency the governor of Bermuda, I have sufficiently established the fact that the said Molloy is an American citizen (although this is not set forth in the dispatches received from the Department), by the prima facie evidence, that a series of dispatches had been exchanged between the Government of the United States, the embassy, and His Majesty’s Government, as to this case, which would not have taken place in the case of an alien.
His excellency has replied to me this day, through the colonial secretary, that as a correspondence had already taken place concerning this prisoner, he prefers that the Government of the United States should make the application to allow the affidavit to be taken through the same channel that was used in the aforesaid correspondence.
I am therefore unable to see the prisoner and take his affidavit at the present time.
Awaiting instructions, I have the honor to be, etc.,