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1
COPY
Enclosure 3.
C. O.
13784
İnce
0 JUN 98
235
Minute by the Attorney General,
*
Hon. Colonial Secretary.
The Spanish Consul desired this Government to
prevent, I presumed by force, certain persons from leaving
Hong-Kong and going on board the United States Ship of War
*Hugh Mc.Culloch".
These persons are alleged by the Consul to be
hostile to Spain and to have been engaged in the rebellion in
the Philippines but they are not British subjects.
Moreover, the "Hugh Mc. Culloch' is in Chinese and
not in British Waters.
In these circumstances, I am not aware of any
authority on the part of this Government to arrest or inter-
fere with these persons. As the matter was pressing the Consul
was sent to see me personally. I explained the inability of
this Government to interfere and asked him if he could refer
me to any authority with which I was not acquainted and I
showed him the terms of the Foreign Enlistment Act 1870.He
was unable to refer to any authority and I informed him I
regretted I could not advise His Excellency to arrest or in-
terfere with the persons in question.
This interview occurred on 16th. May and was
the first intimation I had of the matter.
(Sd.) W.M.Goodman,
Attorney General.
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