CO129-282 - Acting Governor Major Gen Black - 1898 [3-4] — Page 366

19.

363

(

Consul is to be allowed to usurp the functions of the Magis -

trate and to be constitued sole judge as to cases of al-

onle

be

leged desertion of seamen from U. S. Ships this can onl

done by altering the law. In my opinion the present case

shows that such an arrangement might work injustice, but the

position is, at least, an intelligible one, and the Consul con-

tends the forms furnished him assume the Treaty confers the

rights he claims.

As he says he has sent the matter to his Go-

vernment it would certainly be desirable to put the Secre-

tary of State in possession of the facts of the case; for

the Foreign Office may refer to him for information. It is a

little strange the present U. S. Consul finds so many diffi-

culties presented by our law which does not seem to be the

case with other Consuls.

In reply to his letter I should inform him

that there is no reason to suppose that any request in ac-

cordance with the local law to which he has been referred

will not meet with prompt attention and that section 20

sub-section (1) of Ord. 26 of 1891 shows what the master of

a ship can do as regards alleged deserters from his vessel.

(Sd.) W. M. Goodman.

12.4.98.