MY LORD,
No. 33.
(NATAL,)
ADMIRALTY ADVOCATE to FOREIGN OFFICE.
Temple, 29th July 1874.
I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of Lord Tenterden's letter of the 28th instant, stating that, with reference to my letter of the 13th instant, he was directed by your Lordship to transmit to me the accompanying letter from the Colonial Office upon the subject of the alleged attempt by the Portuguese authorities to purchase the Island of Inyack from King Nosungala:
'That the letters of March 22nd and May 9th, 1873, referred to in the enclosed letter, would be found in the places marked in the accompanying volume:
That they were forwarded to me on the 27th March and 22nd May.
Until I read the despatches of Lieut.-Governor Musgrave and the letters of Mr. Straker in the volume sent to me with Lord Tenterden's letter, I had entirely forgotten the contents of those documents.
I now remember having considered whether it would be desirable or not to refer to Mr. Straker's letters, and that I came to the conclusion that although the occupation by Mr. Straker (and I think by Mr. Corkindale) also might be of use as against the Portuguese claim, such occupation, under an alleged grant from the Native Chiefs, told with equal effect against the British claim, I did not think that upon an expected conflict of evidence as to the offer to purchase Inyack, the testimony of Mr. Straker would outweigh that which the Portuguese would bring forward in contradiction.
On these grounds, I thought, and still think, that the information given by Mr. Straker should not be used in support of the British case.
The Earl of Derby.
I have, &c., (Signed)
J. PARKER DEANE.
▲ 19916.-34. 25.-12/84.
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
CO.
Reference :-
885
12 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO
:
8795.