9789.
No. 137.
(GENERAL.)
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :-
C.O-885
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-
COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
QUEEN'S ADVOCATE to FOREIGN OFFICE.
MY LORD,
Doctors' Commons, September 25, 1862. I AM honoured with your Lordship's commands, signified in Mr. Hammond's letter of September 18th instant, stating that he was directed by your Lordship to transmit to me-1st. A copy of the treaty between this country and the United States for the suppression of the slave trade. 2nd. A correspondence with the United States Minister at this court on the subject of passports to be given to vessels, which though equipped in a manner which under the treaty would authorise their detention, are nevertheless engaged in innocent traffic. 3rd. Correspondence on the same subject with the Board of Admiralty, and with the Colonial Office. And that I should perceive that all parties agreed in the expediency of such passports being issued, and that the Government of the United States had decided that the American passports should be signed by the Secretary of State for the United States, and that it remained therefore for Her Majesty's Government to determine by whom the British passports shall be issued, and in what form. Mr. Hammond was also pleased to state that your Lordship thought it better there should be only one British authority to issue the British passports; and that either the Secretary of State for the Colonies, or tho But that in order to permanent secretary of the Admiralty should issue them. prevent inconvenience to Colonial vessels which may be desirous of obtaining passports your Lordship thought that passports duly signed in this country may be sent out to the naval or Colonial authorities in blank, and be filled up by them as occasion may require.
And that as regards the form of passports, I should find in the report of the Emi- gration Commissioners enclosed in the letter from the Colonial Office of the 9th instant a draft of such passport; and he was to request that I would take the same into consideration and report to your Lordship whether I consider it will be sufficient for the purpose, and whether the mode in which it is proposed that passports should be issued is free from objection. That the Government of the United States would of course be informed of the decision taken by Her Britannic Majesty's Government in these respects.
Mr. Hammond was also further pleased to state that your Lordship considered that it might be desirable to give some public notice in regard to the issue of these passports for the guidance of the shipping interest in Her Majesty's dominions; and that if I should concur in the propriety of that step, to request that I would prepare a draft of notice to be inserted in the London Gazette.
In obedience to your Lordship's commands, I have taken these papers into my consideration, together with the questions submitted to me, and have the honour to
Report
That it appears to me that the adoption of the suggestions offered by your Lordship would secure uniformity and simplicity in the issuing of these passports. It is clearly expedient that only one British authority should be empowered to issue them, and it seems to me that this authority ought to be the Colonial Secretary of State.
The United States Government place the discharge of the now and important function in the hands of their Secretary of State, and no considerable amount of inconvenience would ensue from the temporary vacancy of the office of Colonial Secretary of State upon a change of administration. I think that the passports, after having been duly signed in this country might be sent out in blank to be filled up by the Governors of Her Majesty's Colonies as occasion may requiro.
The form of passport provided by Mr. Wallcott in the report of the Emigration Commissioners seems to me carefully and accurately framed, and to be free from objection.
As it appears to me proper that the shipping interest should be formally apprized of the new stipulation between Her Majesty's Government and that of the United States, 1 have, in obedience to your Lordship's wishes, prepare the requisito notice for the London Gazette, and appended it to this report.
D 16278.-35. 25.-9/86.
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