Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1888-10-31

1910 $780, MINISTER W hSl.
rimental to the relations between the two
countries The grounds of this action on the
part Of the United States are stated in a re-
port of the secretary of state to the president
dated the 10Th instant which is as follows:
To THE President: The undersigned has the
honor to submit for your consideration the fol-
lowing statement with view TO receive your di-
rection THEREOF: On the 4th of September last,
letter purport ig to he written by one Charles F.
Murchison. dated at Pomona Cal, was sent from
that place the British minister at this capital,
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-
precision was sought by him for the purpose OF
determining his vote at the approaching presiden-
tial election. He stated that he was natural
lied citizen of the United States. of English
birth, but that he still considered England the
mother land and that this fact led him TO seek
advice from the British representative in this
country. He further stated that the information
he sought was not for himself alone, but to en-
able 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 ST Il regarded
their original obligations of allegiance as para
tons upon the conduct of this government in re-
spect to questions now in controversy and unset
tied between the United States and Great Britain,
and both directly and indirectly imputed insin-
certy in such conduct.
To this letter the British minister at once
piled from Beverly, Mass. under date of the 18th
of September last In this reply he stated that
ANY political party which openly favored the
mother country at the present moment would
| lose popularity, and that the party in power is
fully aware of that fact" that In respect to the
| questions with Canada which have been unfor-
tunately reopeued since the rejection Of the fish
eriesl treaty by the Republican majority in the
senate and by the presidents message to which
| YOU allude" All allowances must there
fore be made for the political situation regards
the presidential election" The minister thus
gave his assent and sanction TO the aspersions
| and imputations above referred to.
Thus under his correspondents assurance of
! secrecy. in which the minister concurred by
marking his answer private, he undertook TO
| advise a citizen Of the United States how to ex-
| ercise the franchise of suffrage in an election
| close nInd for the presidency and vice presi-
| dency q the United States, and through him, as
| the letter suggested TO influence the votes of
many 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 i'm
| pugnments which he had already made of the
good faith OF this government in its public action
| and international dealings. Although ample tune
and opportunity have been afforded him for the
disavowal modification. or correction of his state
ments, to some Of which his attention was called
personally by the undersigned, yet no such dis
vowal 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
compatibis with thu dignity, security, and indie
pendent sovereignty of the United States TO per
init the representative of for ign government in
this country not only to receive and answer with
out disapproval and confirm by his repetition
aspersions upon its political actiou. but also to in
terfere in IT'S domestic affairs by advising persons
formerly his eountrymen, as to their politica
course as citizens of the United States
As between this country and Great Britain
there can be no controversy as to the severance
of the ties OF original allegiance by naturalza
ton. Disputes on this point were fully put a
rest by the treaty of naturalization concluded be
tween the two countries on the 18th day of May
1870. Therefore it will not be commended, nor wa.
such contention admitted by u.s. that citizen
of the United States of British origin subject
to any claim of the country of their original ale
glance.
The undersigned also has the honor TO call at
tention to the provisions of section 5,335 Of TIT
revised statutes of the United States by whicl
severe penalties are visited upon the citizen o
the United States who without the authority o
permission of this government, commences o
carries on any verbal or written correspondent
or intercourse with any foreign government 0
any officer or agent thereof, either with an in
tent to influence the action of such government
or its agents in relation to any disputes contro
VERSES with the United States, or with inten
! ito defeat the measures of the government of tn
| United States Those penalties made equa
Iy applicable to every citizen of the United States
not duly authorized, who ''counsels, advises, o
Q assists in any such correspondence with smia
I | unlawful intent
The undersigned respectfully advises that tn
attention of the attorney general of the Unite
States be directed 10 these enactments, in orde
that an investigation may be made with view
ascertain whether they have not been violated /
the present case by the correspondent Of th
British minister.
By your direction the attention of the BIRTHS
government has in a spirit of comfy been Gale
10 the conduct of its uinster as above described
: but without result 1t therefore becomes nece
h sary for this government to consider whether, &
the guardian of its own self-respect and of ii
integrity of its institutions it will permit furthe
Il intercourse be held through the present BIRTHS
s minister at this capital 1t is to be observed thu
presidents are not wanting to the question III
y der consideration. 1t is settled rule, essentil
to the maintenance Of international intercours'
= that diplomatic representative must be person
II grata 10 the government to which he is accret
tied. If, by his conduct he renders himse
persona non grata, an announcement OF the fai
may be made to his government. In the preseI
o case all the requirements Of comfy have bee
e duly communicated to her maiesty's governmel
i with an expression of the opinion of this goverl
D ment in regard thereto Respectfully submitte'
o [Signed. T. +. BAyARD.