The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1888-11-08
Saekville and Cleveland.

By direction of the president, the secretary
of state informed Lord Sackville that for
causes heretofore made known to her majes.
ty's government his continuance in his pres
ent official position in the United States is no
longer accepted to this country. and would
consequently be detrimental to the relations
between the two countries The grounds of
this action are stated in report of the secre-
tary OF state to the president. dated the Goth
inst, which is as follows.
The undersigned has the honor to submit
for your consideration the following state
ment, with view to receive your direction
thereon: On the 4th of September last
letter purporting to be written by one
Charles +. Murchison, dated at Pomona,
Cal, was sent from that place to the British
minister at this capitol in which the writer
solicited an expression of his views in regard
to certain unsettled diplomatic questions
between the United States and Great Britain,
stating at the same time that such an ex-
preston was sought by him for the purpose
of determining his vote at the approaching
presidential election. He stated that he was a
naturalized citizen ofthe United States, of Eng
lish birth, but that he still considered England
the mother country, and this fact led him to
seek advice from the British representative in
this country. Hefurther stated that the infor-
nation he sought was not for himself alone
but to enable him to give certain assurances to
many other persons in the same situation as
himself, for the purpose of influencing and
determining their political action as citizens
of the United States of English birth. but
who still regarded their original obligations
of allegiance as paramount. The letter also
contained gross reflections upon the conduct
OF this government in respect to questions
now In controversy and unsettled between
the United States and Great Britain, and
indirectly imputed nsncerty in such conduct
ZIG Lott ha Rrffs oh cfo or
piled from Beverly, Mass, under date of the
18th of September last In this reply he
states that "any political party which
openly favors the mother country
at the present moment would
lose popularity and that the party in power
is fully aware of that fact:' and that in re-
spect to the questions with Canada which
have been unfoI tunately re-opened since the
rejection of the [fisheriesl treaty by the Re-
publican majority in the senate, and by the
presidents message to which you allude, all
allowances must therefore be made for the
political situation as regards the presidential
election" The minister thus gave his assent
and sanction to the aspersions and imputa-
tions above referred to. Thus, under his
correspondent s assurance of secrecy in which
the minister concurred by marking his all
swer private he undertook to advise a
citizen of the United States how to exercise
the franchise of suffrage in an election close
at hand for the presidency and vice-pres-
dency of the United States; and through him.
as the letter suggested, to influence the votes
ofmany Others. Upon this correspondence
being made public the minister received the
representatives of the public press, and in
frequent interviews with them, intended
for publication, added to the impugnments
which he had already made of the good faith
of this government in its public action and
international dealings. Although ample
time and opportunity have been afforded
him for the disavowal or modification or
correction of his statements. to some of
which his attention was called personally by
the undersigned, yet no such disavowal or
modification has been made by him through
the channels in which his statements first
found publicity.
THE QUESTION Is THUS PRESENTED
whether it is compatible with the dignity, Sc.
curity and Independent sovereignty of the
United States to permit the representative
of a foreign government in this country not
only to receive and answer without disap-
proval, and confirm by his repitition asper-
sions upon its political action, but also to
interfere in it's domestic affairs by advising
persons formerly his countrymen as to their
political course as citizens of the United
States. AS between this country and
Great Britain there can be no controversy
as to the complete severance of the ties
of original allegiance by naturalization.
Disputes ON this point were finally put at
ed by the two countries on the 18th of May,
1870. Therefore it will not be contended
nor was such contention ever admitted by
US, that citizens of the United States OF
British origin are subject to any claim of tine
country of their original allegiance The un-
dersigned also has the honor to call atten-
ton to the provisions of section 5,335 of the
Revised Statues of the United States who
without the authority or permission of the
government, commences or carries on any
verbal. written correspondence or orintercourse
with any foreign government or any
officer or agent thereof, either with an intent
to influence the action of such government
or its agents, in relation to any disputes or
controversies with the United States
or with an intent to defeat the measures OF
the government of the United States These
penalties are made equally applicable to
every citizen of the United States not duly
authorized who ''counsels, advises or assists
in any such correspondence, with similar
unlawful intent. The undersigned
RESPECTFULLY ADVISES
that the attention of the attorney general
of the United States be directed TO these en-
actments in order that an Investigation NAV
be made with view to ascertain whether
they have not been violated in the present
case by the correspondent of the British min
lister. By your direction the attention of the
British government has in spirit of comfy
been called to the conduct of it's min
fster as above described, but without re-
suit. 1t therefore becomes necessary for
this governments to consider whether, as the
guardian of its own relf-respeet and of the in
tegrity ofits institutions it will permit further
intercourse to be held through the present
British minister at this capital 1t is to be
observed that precedents are not wanting as
to the question under consideration 1t isa
settled rule. essential to the maintenance of
International intercourse, the antiplomatie
representative must be persona grata to the
government to which he is accredited, If. bv
his conduct he renders himself persona non
grata, an announcement of the fact NAV be
made to his government. In the present
case all the requirements of comfy have been
fulfilled. and the facts having been duly com
munlcated to her majesty's government with
an expression of the opinion of this govern
ment in regard thereto Respectfully sub
mitted. 7. F. BAYARD.