CO885-(10-11) — Page 754

11196.

A

No. 602.

(JAMAICA.)

LAW OFFICERS to FOREIGN OFFICE.

MY LORD,

Temple, October 2, 1869. We are honoured with your Lordships commands, signified in Mr. Hammond's letter of September 23rd ultimo, stating that with reference to that part of our report to the Colonial Office of the 6th ultimo,* a copy of which had been communicated to the Foreign Office in which we drew the attention of Her Majesty's Government to the fact of the capture of "La Have" by the Spanish ship of war on the high seas, he was directed by your Lordship to transmit to us for any observations we might have to offer thereupon, a further Despatch from Her Majesty's Chargé d'Affaires at Madrid, enclosing a copy and translation of a note addressed to him by the Spanish Minister for Foreign Affairs justifying the capture of the vessel.

Mr. Hammond likewise enclosed together with the former papers a letter from the Admiralty with a report from Commodore Phillimore containing further information in this case.

In obedience to your Lordship's commands, we have perused the papers submitted to us and have the honour to

Report

That we are of opinion that your Lordship is not called upon to take any further step in this matter.

We consider that this is not a case in which any damages can now be properly claimed, and that as Her Majesty's Chargé d'Affaires has formally notified to the Spanish Government the view which Her Majesty's Government entertains as to the illegality of the capture, your Lordship has sufficiently guarded yourself against the case being invoked on any future occasion by the Spanish Government as a precedent to justify captures made in time of peace on the high seas.

We have, &c. (Signed)

R. P. COLLIER. J. D. COLERIDGE.

TRAVERS TWISS.

The Earl of Clarendon,

&c. &c.

&c.

No. 586.

0 16978.---980. 95.-5/86.

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

mwimmin

Reference :-

C.O. 885

11 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

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