Minister O’Brien to the Secretary of State.
Montevideo, Uruguay, September 30, 1905.
Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of the Department’s dispatch No. 4, dated July 21, inclosing copies of correspondence had with the British ambassador at Washington concerning the capture of the Canadian vessel Agnes G. Donahoe by the Uruguayan authorities for alleged illegal sealing in territorial waters and instructing me while continuing to exert friendly offices not to move in the line of arbitration; also, should occasion arise, I was to consult the Department by cablegram.
This dispatch I received on the 28th ultimo, and as I had advised the Department in my dispatch No. 20, dated August 23, that I was informed by Mr. Peel, chargé d’affaires for Great Britain, that he believed it was the intention of the Uruguayan authorities to release the captain of the Agnes G. Donahoe if they could do so in accordance with the law, I have delayed acknowledging the Department’s dispatch until I could advise as to the final disposition of the case by the Uruguayan authorities.
[Page 918]I may here state that I at no time suggested nor discussed arbitration in connection with this case.
I herewith inclose copy of the order which was issued on the 9th instant by the court releasing the Agnes G. Donahoe. It will be seen from this order that the captain, Matthew Ryan, was allowed to serve out his term of thirty days. However, he was only nominally a prisoner, and had practically his liberty during the thirty days’ period.
The sealskins and armament of the schooner will probably be released to-day. * * *
It is reported that the captain and the owners of the schooner will, on the release of the skins and armament, bring suit for false imprisonment and damages, but later and more direct information is to the effect that the schooner Agnes G. Donahoe will leave Montevideo next week, and her departure will close a controversy which has been of such grave concern to Great Britain, Uruguay, and the Canadian Government.
I am, etc.,