3130.
MY LORD,
No. 801. (CANADA.)
LAW OFFICERS to FOREIGN OFFICE.
We are honoured with your Lordship's commands signified in Mr. Hammond's
Temple, March 24, 1873. letter of the 20th instant, stating that he was directed by your Lordship to transmit to us a letter from the Colonial Office, with previous correspondence relating to the land claims of the British settlers in the Island of San Juan, and he was to request us to take the papers into consideration and report to your Lordship our opinion on the subject.
In obedience to your Lordship's commands we have the honour to-
Report
That in our opinion there is nothing either in the conduct of the Governor of Washington Territory or in the order of the President of the United States, which your Lordship can properly direct Sir E. Thornton to bring to the notice of the United States Government, as contrary to the rights of British subjects settled in the Island of San Juan.
The order, as Sir E. Thornton observes in his letter to your Lordship of the 7th February 1873, shows a desire that British subjects should not be disturbed in any rights which they may possess.
And the letter from Mr. Hamilton Fish to Sir E. Thornton of the 27th January 1873 gives a satisfactory explanation of the action taken by the Governor of Washington Territory.
Sir E. Thornton may, however, be properly instructed to keep this subject before him, and to communicate, as he has hitherto done, with Mr. Hamilton Fish, if any occasion should call upon him so to do.
The Right Hon. the Earl Granville.
We have, &c. (Signed)
J. D. COLERIDGE. G. JESSEL.
J. PARKER DEANE.
U 16978.- 825. 25.-5/86.
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
C.O. 885
Reference :-
11 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
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