2728.
No. 316.
(BERMUDA.)
LAW OFFICERS to FOREIGN OFFICE.
MY LORD,
Lincoln's Inn, March 16, 1865. WE are honoured with your Lordship's commands, signified in Mr. Hammond's letter of the 2nd March instant, stating that he was directed by your Lordship to transmit to us a letter from the Colonial Office enclosing a copy of a Despatch from the Lieutenant-Governor of Bermuda reporting the arrival in St. George's harbour, Bermuda, of the Confederate States merchant steamer "Chameleon," formerly the Confederate States war steamer "Tallahassee," and to request that we would take these papers into consideration, and favour your Lordship with our opinion on the points as affecting the "Chameleon" and vessels sailing under similar circumstances, with regard to which the Governor applied to be furnished with instructions.
In obedience to your Lordship's commands we have taken this matter into con- sideration, and have the honour to
Report
That, with respect to the first question contained in the Despatch from the Lieutenant- Governor of Bermuda, we are of opinion that he exercised a sound discretion in treating the
"Chameleon" (after he had satisfied himself of the truth of the represen- tations made by her master) as a merchant vessel belonging to the country of one of the belligerents; that it is competent to the Government of either belligerent to sell or transfer a ship of war to a private merchant or to change the character of a vessel from that of a ship of war to that of a merchant vessel, if the Government choose to trade on its own account.
To the second question we answer that the merchant vessels belonging to the citizens of both belligerents and registered in their ports ought to be admitted to the harbours of Her Majesty on the same footing. The absence of a formal recognition by Her Majesty of the Confederate States does not affect the principle of strict neutrality upon which the vessels of both belligerents are so admitted.
The Earl Russell, K.G.,
&c. &c.
&c.
We have, &c.
(Signed)
ROUNDELL PALMER. R. P. COLLIER. ROBERT PHILLIMORE.
16278.--79. 25.-2/86.
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :-
C.O. 885
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH—NOT TO