CO885-(10-11) — Page 807

5387.

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

TLC.O. 885

T」

11 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

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

No. 642. (GIBRALTAR.)

LAW OFFICERS to COLONIAL OFFICE.

MY LOED,

Temple, May 18, 1870. We are honoured with your Lordship's commands, signified in Sir Frederic Rogers' letter of the 12th instant, stating that he was directed by your Lordship to transmit to us a copy of a letter from the Foreign Office, forwarding one from the Italian Minister at this court, with a memorandum of the substance of a verbal repre- sentation made to the Earl of Clarendon in regard to the position of Italian subjects resident at Gibraltar with respect to commercial pursuits and other privileges connected therewith, which are assumed to be guaranteed to them by the Treaty of Commerce between this country and Italy of 6th August 1863.

And he was to remark that the overcrowding of the fortress of Gibraltar, and more especially the influx of aliens into it, has long been a subject of uneasiness to the Government, as well in a military and political as in a sanitary point of view. To control this evil the residence of aliens, under regulations issued nearly 40 years ago, has not been allowed except under temporary licenses or permits, which again (with very rare exceptions) are not granted when the object is a permanent one, like the establishment of an alien in trade.

That the Italian Minister represents that the authorities at Gibraltar do not consider the treaty in question to be applicable to that fortress, and complains of the system of permits being extended to Italian subjects.

That your Lordship would call upon the Governor for a report on these papers, but in the meantime your Lordship requests that we would favour you with our opinion whether Gibraltar comes within the 14th Article of the Treaty of Commerce between this country and Italy of the 6th August 1863.

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

Report

That in our opinion the subjects of the King of Italy desiring to reside and to trade at Gibraltar are clearly within both the letter and the spirit of the 14th Article of the Treaty of Navigation and Commerce between this country and Italy of the 6th of August 1863.

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

&c.

&c.

&c.

We have, &c. (Signed)

R. P. COLLIER. J. D. COLERIDGE. TRAVERS TWISS.

o 16278.-791.

25.---5/86.