The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1813-07-29


ident in his message to Congress, and communicate
ed also to Mr.. Barlow in letter Of the l4th July,
1912. with view 20 the requisite explanation from
the French government On the 9th day OF May,
1872, the Emperor left Paris for the North. and IN
two days thereafter the Duke of Bassano followed
him. negotiation for the adjustment of injuries,
and the arrangement Of our commerce, with the
government OF France, long depending, and said TO
have been brought nearly to = conclusion, at the
time OF Mr.. Bariow's death, was suspended by that
event. His successor, lately appointed is su,hoiiz
ed 60 resume the negotiation, and TO conclude il.
He is instructed TO demand redress of the French
government for every injury, and an explanation OF
its motive for Withholding from this government
knowledge of the decree for long time after its
adoption
II appears by the documents referred to, that Mr..
Barlow lost no time, after having obtained knowE
edge OF the existence of the French decree Of me
2Sth April, 1911, in demanding a copy OF II. and
transmitting it to Mr.. Russell, who anne
diatey laid before the British government urging,
on the ground of this new proof of the repeal of
the French DEGREES, that the british orders in
Gil should be repealed Mr. Russell's note to Lord
Castlereagh bears date on the Goth Of May Lord
Csstlereagh's reply on the Esd, in which he prons-
ed to submit the decree to the consideration of the
Prince Regent II appears, however. that
couragement was given at that time hope that the
orders in council would be repealed in consequence
OF that DEGREES and that although it afterwards
made the ground Of their repeal, the repeal was
nevertheless to be ascribec to other causes Their
repeal did not take effect until the 23d OF June,
more than month after the French decree had been
la before the British government; delay indcst-
ing, in ITSELF at period momentOus and critical,
NOT mt rely neglect but disregard Of the French de-
cree That the repeal of the British orders in coun-
Gil was not produced by the French decree. other
proofs might be adduced l will state one, which
in addition TO the evidence contained in the letters
from Mr. Russell, herewith communicated marked
q, Is deemed conclusive In the communication of
Mr.. Baker TO Mr.. Graham, on the 9th August, 1912,
which Was founded on instructions from his govern
ment, of as late date the 18th June, in which he
stated that an official declaratan would be sent to
this country, proposing conditional repeal Of thc
orders in council, so far they affected the United
states, no notice whatever taken of the French
decree. One Of the conditions then contemplated
was, that the orders in council should be revived
the end Of eight months, unless the conduct of the
French government and the result of the commune
cations with the government of the Ueted States,
should be such in the opinion of the British gov
ernment to render their revival unnecessary con.
dition which proves incontestibly that the French
decree was not considered by the British government
sufficient ground on which to repeal the orders in
council proves also that on that day the British
government had resolved not to repeal the orders on
the basis of that decree since The proposed repeal
was to depend not on what the French government
had already done, but on what it might do, and on
arrangements to be entered into with the U States,
The French decree of the 28th April. 1911. was
transmitted to tie United States by the Wasp. q
public vessel, which had been lcug waiting, al the
ports Of Great Britain and France, despatches from
our ministers relating these very important con-
Germs with both governments 1t was received at
the Department OF State the 18th July, 1912,
nearly month after the declaration Of war against
Great Britain. Intelligence Of the repeal of the or
ders IN council was received until about the mid.
die OF the following month 1t was impossible,
therefore, that either of those acts, in whate,er
light they might be viewed, should have been taken
into consideration, or have had any influence in de.
Gliding on that important event
Rad the British government been disposed to repeal
its orders in council, in conformity with the prnci
pie OH which ii professed to have issued them, and
on the condition which il had itself prescribed there
was no reason to delay the repeal until such decree
as that of the 2sth April, 1911, should be produced
The declaration of the French government Of Au-
gust 5, 1910, had fully satisfied every claim Of the
British government according to its own principles
on that point BY it the DEGREES Of Berlin and Mi.
Ian were declared to be repealed, the repeal to take
effect on the 1st Noyetb<r following, which day
it did take effect. The only condition attached to
it, was, either that Great Britain should follow the
example, and repeal her orders in council, or that
the United States should carry into effect against her
their non.itnportation act This condition was in its
nature subsequent, not precedent, reserving right
in France to revive her DEGREES in neither alter
native was performed. By this declaration il was
put completely in the power of Great Britain to ter
inmate this controversy in a the most honor.
able to herself France had yielded to her the
ground on a condition with which size had declared
her willingness to comply Had she complied, the
non-mpnrtation would have been carried into
effect, nor could the French DEGREES have been re.
viyed BY refusing to comply, she has made herself
responsible for all that has since followed.
ny the decree of the 28th April, t8l1 the decrses
vt Berlin and Milan said to be defnitivey re-
peaed and the execution Of the non-importation
act against Great Britain was declared to be the
grsund of that repeal. The repeal announced by
the declaration Of the 5th August 1910, wss abso.
lutte and final, except to the condition subsequent
attached it. This latter decree acknowledges that
that condition had been performed, and disclams
the right to revive il, in consequence Of that peror.
Der, confirms in every circumstance the preceding
repeal The latter act, the refore, to the repeal,
noihing more than a confirmation of the former.