CO885-(11-13) — Page 157

9469.

MY LORD,

No. 851. (NEWFOUNDLAND.)

LAW OFFICERS to COLONIAL OFFICE.

1

Temple, September 10, 1873.

We are honoured with your Lordship's commands signified in Mr. Meade's letter of the 2nd instant, stating that with reference to our opinions recently given to Earl Granville, respecting the Act of the Newfoundland Legislature relating to the Treaty of Washington, be (Mr. Meade) was directed by your Lordship to transmit to us a copy of a Despatch from the Governor of that island, together with a telegram received from him on the 21st instant.

That he (Mr. Meade) was also to enclose some previous correspondence relating to the question, and he was to request us to favour your Lordship with our opinion whether Her Majesty's Government might properly give the guarantee requested in the telegram from Governor Hill.

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

Report

That in our opinion the Imperial Government should not have been called upon to guarantee that the suspension of the laws of a Colony, which suspension has been legally proclaimed by the Governor of the Colony, shall be "real and effective."

To call for such a guarantee seems to us very like a suggestion of bad faith on the part of the Imperial Government; to give the guarantee would, we respectfully suggest for your Lordship's consideration, be contrary to the honour and dignity of Her Majesty's Government.

And we are of opinion that Her Majesty's Government cannot properly give the guarantee required by Mr. Fish.

We have, &c.

(Signed)

The Right Hon. the Earl of Kimberley,

&o.

&c.

&c.

J. D. COLERIDGE.

J. PARKER DEANE.

U 16278.-847.

95.-5.86.

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

། ། ། ། །

MC.O. 885

11 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

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