The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1811-03-13
OFFICIAL DOCUMENT.
Cchy Of letter from Mr.. PISKsKy 20 Lord
WELLEsLEy, dated,
Great Cumberland Place, Dec. 10, 1910

In compliance with the request contained
in your note OF the 9th inst. proceed to re-
eaptulate in this letter with some variations
however)the statements and remarks which
had the honour TO make in our conference
of the sth, respecting the revocation OF the
French DEGREES as connected with change
of system here on the subject OF neutral
rights.
Your lordship need not be told that should
have been happy TO offer, at a much earlier
moment, every explanation in nay power on
matters of such high csncerp TO the rights
and commerce Of my country, and the future
character OF its foreign relations, II had
been made TO understand that explanation
was desired.
NV written communications of Aug and
Nov. were concise, but they were not inten-
ded TO be sufficient They furnished evidence
which thought conclusive, and abstalned
from laboured CONNIE ntary, because deem
ed it superfuous. / had taken up an opinion
which abandoned reluctantly and late, that
the British government, would be eager TO
follow the example OF France in recalling, AS
Il had professed TO 10 in hromulgaiinS, that
extraordinary system of maritime annoyance
which, in 1907, presented TO neutral trade In
i've of inactivity or con6scation |; which con-
sidered it as subject to be regulated IKE
the trade Of the united kingdoms, oy the sta
tu,es of ,he British parliament and UNDER
took to bend and fashion j, by every variety OF
expedicnt to all the purposes and even the
csprices al Great Britain. had no idea ,ha'
the remnant of that system, productive oil no
conceivable advantage to England, and de-
servedly odiouS, Cor its theory and destructive
effects, to others, codld survive. the puolcH
declaration of France that the edicts oil bcr'
lin and Milan were revoked. Instructed az
length, however, by your lordship's cohunu-
ed silence, and" alarmed for the PROPERTY "
mn |ciiosy -cifizens, now more than ever expo
,ed, by AN erroneous confidence, to the rum
Gus operation of he British orders, ] was
preparing TO support my general representa-
lions by detailed remonsuance. whcn re-
ceived the honour of your note OF the AIN '"s''
In the conference which ensued, ! troubled
your lordship with verbal communication,
of which the following is nearly the subsistence.
The doubts which appear to stand in the
way of the recall Of the British orders in
council, (nnder which denomination include
certain orders Of blockade oil kindred prin-
ciple and spirit) must refer to ihc manner, or
the tcrms,or the hra-hcai ef,cf of the allcdg-
ed repeal of the DEGREES of France.
That the manner of the proceeding Is sat-
lsfactory TO the British government, canno, he
questioned since it is precisely that in
which it's own numerous orders of establish
ing, modifying or removing blockades and
other maritime distractions, are usually pro-
claimed to neutral states and merchants.
The French repeal was officially notified
on the 5th of August, TO the Minister Pleni.
potcniiary of the United States at Paris, by
the French Minister for Foreign Affairs as
had the honour To inform your Ioldship in
my letter of the 75th OF the same month,
which not only gave the import, out (as the
inclosed copy will shew) adopted the words
of General Armstrong; statement to Jnc of
the tenor and effect of that notice.
On the 9th Of August the notification TO
General Armstrong was published in the
iioniteur, the official journal Of the French
government, as the act OF that government
and thus became formal declaration, and
pubick pledge 10 all who had an interest in
the matter Of it.
1t would be a waste Of time to particularize
the numerous instances of analogous practice
in England, by which this course is counten-
anccd but recent example happens 10 be
before me, and may therefore be mentioned.
The partial recall, or modification OF the
English blockade of the ports and places of
Spain from Gijon to the French territory,
G,self known 10 my government, only through
a circular notification to me, rccj,cd after
wards in the London Gazctte) was declared
to the American and other governments In
exactly the same mode.
think it demons,rable that the terms in
which the French revocation was announced,
are just as free from we'll founded objection
as the manner.
Your Icrd,hips view Of them Is entirely
unknown to me but am not ignorant that
there ere those in this couA,ry who, profess
sing to have examined them with CARE,
and having certainly examined them with
A IL