8964.
MY LORD,
No. 782.
(FiJr.)
LAW OFFICERS to FOREIGN OFFICE.
We are honoured with your Lordship's commands, signified in Mr. Hammond's
Temple, August 29, 1872. letter of the 17th instant, stating that he was directed to transmit to us Despatches, with their enclosures, from Her Majesty's Consul in Fiji, relative to the kidnapping of South Sea Islanders by persons on board vessels named the "Nukulau " "Carl"; that a copy of the Act of Parliament recently passed on the subject was also and the enclosed, and that he was to request that we would take these papers into consideration and favour your Lordship with our opinion as to the steps which should be taken for the punishment of those engaged in these kidnapping proceedings.
In obedience to your Lordships' commands we have the honour to
Report
That the persons on board the "Nukulau" and the "Carl" cannot be proceeded against or punished under the 35 & 36 Viot. c. 19., which is not retrospective.
We cannot suggest any steps which can now be taken for the punishment of the offences described by Mr. Consul March and in the papers enclosed in his Despatch; and we have before now taken the liberty to point out that such occurrences are too clearly certain to recur as long as the present state of things in the Fiji Islands remains unaltered.
The Right Hon, the Earl Granville.
We have, &o. (Signed)
J. D. COLERIDGE. G. JESSEL.
J. PARKER DEANE.
o 16378,-929. 95,-5/86.
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :-
ILLIC.O. 885
11 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO