Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1827-05-15

, the commerce which, Tor tkeis and her own ad-
! vantage, Great Britain allows between them and
the u ;. should be placed on the same footing OF
| reciprocity, as the direct uade between Great
/ Britain aud the u s. intended To be placed
/ by the Convention Of 81 July, 1915" : See same
letter, page 40 of same Message
| The sequel will shcw, that this declaration
! (Which alone mcsi robably induced the accep-
lance of this subject for dscuSsIon) did not
! pond with the individual opinion OF the American
negotia,or II is to be Presumed, therefore, that
the declaration was made. in compliance with his
positive Instructions 10 that effect given by Presi-
dent Madison.
I On the GSth Of September, IsI6, Lord Castle
REACH writes Mr. Adams, stating several res-
sons, which sc will Preclude me from returning
as early answer to your note Of the I7h az
! shoGll wish under the sense entertain of the
great Importance OF the several objects to which it
invites the attention OF this government And
assuring him, ,ha, Ne shall lose time, in bring
ing the various oil icCs referred To- under the deli
beraiiUn of the British Cabinet See ord Cas-.
tlereash's letter air. Adams. dated Foreign
Offce, SEP cinbe IS, 1916, contained in page i3
OF the same Message.
! Not satisfied by this prompt reply to iiis note,
r., nor ccg!Ing IN the ASSURANCES which II seemed
/ to give, Mr.. Adams on the oh OF Octcber 1916,
thus wri.es TO our Secretary of State, Mr.. Mon,
roe: 40 There IS reason 10 expect, that any
departure from the policy already deter mined up
on, a" III take place /, is p obsbie that you will
receive this despatch abou, the time of the meet
ing OF Congress. Any measures III the spirit, and
with the object, of those proposed at the las,
session. and 'hen postponed may be aow adopt
/ ell without hesitation. My own enti:e conyic-
ZION Is, that the operation Of such measures, IL
cces-fui, will be the only possible means of
convincing this government OF the expediency
OF relaxing from tine rigour OF their exclusive
colonial system. 1t is, and uniformly has n
my opinion, that the result OF the equalization OF
OF duties " iii be 10 the advantage OF Great B,i-
! tain, and TO disadvantage. But the principle
I was sanctioned By the Act Of Congress before
the convention Of he 81 July 1915, was negoiia
Ted. The 6engft OF tie CoRUewtiea TO az. if
any, is III the India trude; but as is tfuyotio,
IS to be short, the only chance Of haUing il re-
ne'red, at the end qfIs four years, ,Cnh add.
fionai articles Of more h6erairy, 'UH be syFec
tue coUnterGctiag regulations, ia resDect To
the commerce uOith tie British Colonies in fie
| Vest indies" LSee Mr.. Adans's letter to tue
Secretary oil State, dated London. OCTOBER 5 h.
1915, conlaIaed IL page ~ CT the same mes
sage
1 have given the very words Of Mr.. Adams
himself, from which the reader will deduce his
own conclusions. They will probably enable
him 10 learn, in what source The schsrne OF
80 effective counieTacIng resula'ions'' originated:
and why 1t was desired TO apply such regulations
at that Time, TO the commerce between the u s
I indies.
! particularly, without waiting even TO see wb.t
would be the OF the British government
| 10 the proposition previously made by the u s.
which The Bri;i-h Minister had promised, onls
seven days before, lose no IN submitting to
the consider; ton of his government.
! Neither President Madison, nor Congress seem
20 have concuIred IN this suggestion made By Mr.
Adams. The only influence it appears to have
produced, the passage OF ~ act on the Sd of
March, 1917. whereby tonnage duty OF two
dollars per ton imposed, on all io eign yes
sells, coming to the u. > from foreign ports. into
! and with which American vessels were not oyli-
! HGyiiy permitted TO enter aud trade. This law
however, produced no effect uTon the Britt h yes
>es, coming TO the u 5. from Great Britain INTO
The rorts Of which coua'ry, American vessel
mere ordinarily admitted 10 enter and trade Ii
! did not therefore interrupt the circuiious trade
carried on as have beloI. described. SUBSEQUENT
events go far TO prove moreover, thar even tLi,
additional restriction would not hen have been
imposed, but for the very positive assurance Civ
en- oy Mr.. Adams, that there was no reason 10
expect any departure from the policy of tn. Bri
iish government before annou: ced. In Ibis opin
ion how ever, AiT. Adams was n.islskeu as y IN
shew.
After -unry apologies (Which must have been
satisfactory made to Mr.. Adams for not giving
more early reply To his note of the I7.h OF
Sepi nber, 1916, Lord CaslIeresgh a, length ON
articles, in which stated, the terms unop
which Great Britain willing to establish the
trade between the u S and her American DOS
sessions. Mr. Adams blinking him. elf sutbos
rized by hs instructions, accele to the promo
silons contained in these articles, transniited
them the u. s. s. FOR the consdey alton of his
government Before his time, 10 wit. on the
iih nf March, 1917, President Msdlson had re,i,
eI from the Presidency Of the II. s. and Mr..
Monroe had been elected his successor Presiden,
Monroe soon after hi- election, recalled Mr.
Adams from London, and placing him at the head
of the Department OF STATE, appointed Mr. Rush
10 succeed hun, Minister Plen;po,entiary oil
the L. S. at the Court OF London.
The terms OF proposed arrangement, contained !
in the reject Of Lord Cas- lereag's four articles,
are so important in themselves, that must post !
pone the examination Of them to another occasion.
At present viii only remark, that although bis
formal sCTitte7 proposal, handed 10 The Min.
lister Of the u. 5. in the course of negotiation
limited by the u. s. themselves; and although the
British government as formally told, in note I
FROM that Minister, That he had " Transmitted il
for the consideration Of his govenment;p yet no /
direct formal answer 10 II, eScr returned !
By the u. s. The proposition was made (as /!
have ssd) on the 10Th Narch, lSi7 s, the first au-
tbentic information the British Minister received
of ,he fate of this proposition, was contained in |
a report of Committee OF the House Of Repr e-en-
tatives Of the y. S. to that body made on The
OF February, 1918 mentioning the rejection by the
President of these four articles; and approving Of
that rejection.
Such conduct as might we'll have been expected |
affected the sensihilily OF the British Cabi- |
metz" and the explanation OF given by Mr. |
Adams (then the Secretary Of State) 10 Mr.. |
Cur Niuiafer in J,p.don. il this. "a