CO129-294 - Governor Sir Blake - 1899 [10-12] — Page 431

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sir,

Enclosure.

428

C. J.

193

Bec 2 JAN

CONSULAR

SERVICE, U., S. A.

HongKong, 14th. November, 1899.

4

In regard to previous correspondence looking toward the possible deportation of one Stella Donnelly to the United States, I have to report I telegraphed my Government as agreed, and they replied that the matter had been answered negatively on October 5th. then in transit through the Mail, so I delayed answering until I might receive the Despatch

in full, which I submit in part below

-

In reply I have to inform you that this matter is one over which the Department of State has no jurisdiction, the question raised being one to which it cannot give # an authoritative answer because no provision is made

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by law or convention for the relief or support of "American citizens, other than seamen, who may have

**

#

become helpless and destitute in Foreign countries. "As this Government has no funds at its disposal for

bringing back to the United States destitute American Citizens, it has always been customary in this country, as a matter of reciprocity and humanity, to care for "all aliens who may in like manner become destitute and

is

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+

** helpless while here. It therefore Miss Donnelly

* an American citizen, the question as to whether pro-

vision