16645.
No. 92.
(CANADA.)
M LAW OFFICERS to FOREIGN OFFICE.
MY LORD,
Royal Courts of Justice, September 16, 1895. We are honoured with your Lordship's commands signified in Mr. Bertie's letter of the 6th instant, requesting our opinion whether the officers commanding Her Majesty's ships could properly be instructed to decline to take over any British vessel seized by an American cruizer unless the declaration of seizure alleged a specific con- travention of the British Act of Parliament.
We have taken the matter into our consideration, and, in obedience to your Lordship's commands, have the honour to
Report-
That we are of opinion that instructions can be properly given to the officers commanding Her Majesty's ships to decline to take over any British vessel seized by an American cruizer unless the declaration of seizure alleges a specific offence which is a contravention of the British Act of Parliament. It is only in cases of such con- travention that the American cruizer can seize a British ship, and the officers commanding Her Majesty's ships ought not to take over a vessel so seized unless such contravention is alleged.
The Most Hon. The Marquis of Salisbury, K.G.,
&c. &c. &c.
We have, &c.
RICHARD WEBSTER. R. B. FINLAY.
15965.-211 25.--0,95
}
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
C.O.885
Reference :---
14 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO
1