CO885-(10-11) — Page 720

7107.

SIB,

No. 573.

(BAHAMAB.)

FOREIGN OFFICE to COLONIAL OFFICE.

Foreign Office, June 25, 1869. WITH reference to my letter of the 11th instant, enclosing a copy of the answer of the Spanish Government to the representations respecting the proceedings of Spanish cruisers in the neighbourhood of the Bahamas, which Sir John Crampton made in his note of the 1st of May, of which a copy was transmitted to you on the 15th of that month, I am directed by the Earl of Clarendon to transmit to you, to be laid before Earl Granville, a copy of a Despatch which, after communication with the Law Officers of the Crown, Lord Clarendon has addressed to Her Majesty's Chargé d'Affaires at Madrid.

I am to add that the Law Officers in their Report on which that Despatch was founded observe that laxity does appear to have prevailed at the Bahamas, and that it is possible the Spanish Government may have cause of complaint, and that while the Spanish Government should be asked for more specific information, the Governor of the Bahamas should be warned to be on his guard against any connivance on the part of the inferior officials of the Bahamas with breaches of the Foreign Enlistment Act.

The Under Secretary of State, Colonial Office.

I am, (Signed)

&c.

E. HAMMOND.

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

61

Reference :-

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11 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

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SIR,

LORD CLARENDON to MR. FRENCH.

Foreign Office, June 25, 1869. I HAVE received your Dispatch, No. 11 of the 7th of June, enclosing the reply of the Spanish Government dated May 31st, to the representations which Sir J. Crampton had been instructed to make respecting the proceedings of Spanish cruisers in the neighbourhood of the Bahamas.

You will acquaint the Spanish Secretary of State that Her Majesty's Government would have deemed the answer of the Spanish Government more satisfactory if it had contained explanations in regard to the specific complaints brought before them in Sir J. Crampton's note of the 1st of May of the interference of the Spanish cruisers with and "Elva," and the violation of the territorial the British vessels "Jefferson Davis

in British waters, and in the sub- rights of this country in the capture of the “Yara sequent landing of an armed party on British soil, by whom sundry acts of violence were committed on British subjects; and Her Majesty's Government still hope to receive from the Spanish Government such explanations in regard to these matters, in so far at least as the capture of the vessels is concerned. The explanation and apology offered by Admiral Malcampo in regard to the landing of an armed party in pursuit, as it was alleged, of persons who had escaped from the last-named vessel, have been accepted by Her Majesty's Government as satisfactory; but the recriminatory charges brought against British officials are not explanations as to the capture of the vessels themselves.

But as regards these charges you will assure the Spanish Government that no time will be lost in prosecuting inquiries, as soon as the precise acts or omissions of duty of which the Spanish Government complain are made known to Her Majesty's Govern- munt spe-ifically and in detail.

You will further say that the most stringent instructions have been sent to the Governor of the Bahamas, and that if any violation of neutrality has been committed, it was quite contrary to the orders and wishes of Her Majesty's Government.

I am, &c. (Signed) CLARENDON. R. P. Ffrench, Esq.

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