CO885-(11-13) — Page 169

10502.

SIB,

No. 863.

(STRAITS SETTLEMENTS.)

FOREIGN OFFICE to COLONIAL OFFICE.

WITH reference to your letters of the 3rd ultimo, and to previous correspon-

Foreign Office, October 6, 1873. dence, I am directed by Earl Granville to state to you, for the information of the Earl of Kimberley, that his Lordship has consulted the Law Officers of the Crown as to whether there is sufficient ground for disputing the sovereignty of Spain over Sulu, or for objecting to the notification of the Spanish Government prohibiting the resort of vessels to the Sulu Islands.

In reply the Law Officers have reported that the information before them does not enable them to form a clear opinion upon the rights of Spain to the territories in question, or to say whether there are in fact sufficient grounds for disputing the Sovereignty of Spain over Sulu. They are, however, of opinion that the notification prohibiting the resort of vessels to the Sulu territories and dependencies may probably be objected to, and the Spanish Government be called on to confine the effect of that notification to vessels engaged in illegal traffic.

In accordance with this opinion, Lord Granville proposes to address to Her Majesty's Minister at Madrid the instruction, draft of which is enclosed for Lord Kimberley's observations.

I am also to enclose for Lord Kimberley's information copy of a confidential memorandum drawn up in this office relative to the Sulu Islands.

The Under Secretary of State,

Colonial Office.

I am, &c. (Signed) E. HAMMOND.

+

o 16978-889. 25.-5/86.

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

C.O. 885

Reference :-

11 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

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