10498.
SIB,
No. 786.
(GIBRALTAR.)
FOREIGN OFFICE to COLONIAL OFFICE.
WITH reference to my letter of the 12th instant and to previous correspondence
Foreign Office, October 23, 1872. relative to the proceedings of Spanish Guarda Costas in British waters, I am directed by Earl Granville to state to you, for the information of the Earl of Kimberley, that his Lordship has thought it right to consult the Law Officers of the Crown as to how far Her Majesty's Government have a right to prevent Spanish revenue vessels from coming within the territorial waters of Gibraltar, and what steps they would be justified in taking to prevent their capturing vessels within the limits, to enforce the liberation of vessels so captured, or to punish the Spanish Guarda Costas for the insult offered by the violation of territory.
In reply the Law Officers have advised his Lordship that Her Majesty's Government has the right to prevent Spanish revenue vessels from coming within the territorial waters of Gibraltar, and would be justified in taking any measures in preventing the capture of vessels by Spanish revenue vessels within the territorial limits, or enforcing the liberation of vessels so captured.
Lord Granville is further advised that Her Majesty's Government would be exercising only a right in directing the seizure and detention of any Spanish Guarda Costas and the imprisonment of their crews, in the event of a violation of British territory, till the Spanish Government gave some security against the repetition of similar insults.
Lord Granville trusts, however, that the instructions which have been sent to the Governor of Algesiras (as reported in Mr. Layard's, No. 298, copy of which was enclosed in my above-mentioned letter of the 12th instant) will spare Her Majesty's Government the necessity of having recourse to the measures indicated by the Law Officers.
The Under Secretary of State, Colonial Office.
I
&c. am,
(Signed)
ENFIELD.
• 16978.-943.
95,-5/86.
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :-
TELEC.O. 885
11
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH—NOT TO
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