CO885-(10-11) — Page 705

5281.

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

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Reference :-

C.O. 885

11 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- | COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH—NOT TO

No. 561.

(BAHAMAS)

LAW OFFICERS to COLONIAL OFFICE.

Temple, May 7, 1869. MY LORD,

We are honoured with your Lordship's commands signified in Sir F. R. Sand- ford's letter of the 6th instant, stating that he was directed by your Lordship to transmit to us a copy of a representation from the Spanish Admiral in Cuba to Her Britannic Majesty's Consul General in that island, complaining that a Spanish merchant steamer the "Comanditario" which "had constituted herself into a pirate on the high “seas, and was without the documents required for navigating" was given entrance in ballast, at the port of South West Bay in the Island of Providence, in the Bahamas, about six miles from Nassau, the capital; that she asked for coals, that they were sent to her from Nassau in a sloop, which at the same time took many Cubans, and which returned the next day laden with part or all of the "Comanditario's" cargo, and that the "Comanditario" "cleared next day for Charlestown under the name of the "Yara.” Sir F. R. Sandford further stated that your Lordship would be glad if we would advise whether the facts alleged by the Spanish admiral (assuming their truth)

you afford any reason for supposing that the authorities at Bahamas had neglected any lawful means of preventing the islands from being made use of for purposes hostile to the Cuban Government, and that he was to request that we would suggest any instruc- tions which we might think useful for the guidance of the Governor under circum- stances similar to those which are alleged to have occurred, and that he was to explain in conclusion that the complaint in the latter part of the admiral's letter as to the drilling of Cubans in Nassau had been denied by the Governor of Bahamas.

In obedience to your Lordship's commands, we have the honour to

Report

That it is needless to observe that if the statement of the Spanish admiral as to the enlistment and drilling of Cuban insurgents at Nassau is correct, the Spanish Govern. ment has grave cause of complaint.

It is, indeed, said that this statement is denied in general terms. We submit, how- ever, that some inquiry should be made with a view of ascertaining whether it is a pure fabrication, or whether it is to some extent true, and if so to what extent.

The perusal of the letter of the Spanish admiral leaves upon our minds the impres- sion that there has been laxity, if not connivance, with the insurgents on the part of some of the subordinate officials at the Bahamas calling for the exercise of more vigilance on the part of the Governor. We suggest that he should be instructed that no vessel belonging, or reasonably suspected to belong, to the insurgents, or to be engaged in their service should be admitted into our ports, for the insurgents not being recognised as belligerents can be entitled to no public ships, and that he be further instructed that his duty to a friendly nation is not discharged by merely putting in force the Foreign Enlistment Act when offences against it are formally brought to his notice, but that energy and vigilance are required to prevent its infringement, and our territory being used for the purposes of the insurgents.

If we are determined to insist on our rights against Spain, and to protest against, and (if necessary) to resist by force, the arbitrary proceedings of General Dulce it is important that the conduct of the Government of the Bahamas should give Spain no cause for recrimination.

We have, &c, (Signed)

The Right Hon. the Earl Granville, K.G.,

&c. &o.

&c.

B. P. COLLIER.

J. D. COLERIDGE.

o 16978-817,

95.-5/88.