Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-11-07
THE sACKvILLE EPISODE.
Correspondence Between Lord Salisbury
and the Late British Minister.

The papers in the Sackville case we're made
public in London last evening. The first il
letter from Lord Salisbury TO Lord Sackville,
and is dated October "a. II is as follows:
Mr.. Phelps, who is staying at my house, in
forms me that Mr.. Bayard's request for your
recall is not based upon the letter to Murchi-
son, but upon 9 newspaper interview. re-
piled that was glad il was not true that the re-
quest was due to the writing Of the letter, which
was made public only by q betrayal Of conf
dence, and it was hardly practicable 10 lay down
the principle that a diplomatic representative
should be prohibited from expressing even pri-
vately any opinion upon events passing in the
country to which he Is accredited The Ian
guage of an interview is different You must
be taken as having intended it for publication
Before admitting the need for a recall was
bound in justice to you to know exactly what
the alleged objectionable language was.
therefore asked Mr.. Phelps for a copy of the
interview in order to ascertain from you
whether you had been accurately reported, and
/ told him that would then bring the matter
before my colleagues Mr. Phelps replied that
he had not received the text Of the interview,
but would take steps TO procure it. twas con-
sequently understood that until the copy was
received there should be no answer to the re-
quest for your recall"
sAoKvIILE's EXPLANATION.
Lord Sackville replied on the 2sth Of Oc-
tober, as follows: 1.-The letter which I an
swered was political republican plot. / have
mailed full explanation of it to you. II my
recall is demanded il is due to the elections
here beg to express my deep regrets for
what has occurred"
On the SOth Lord sackville cabled that he
had received his passports. On the 3lst Mr..
Phelps informed Lord Salisbury of the same
fact and added that Mr.. Cleveland hoped that
another minister would be accredited.
On the 4th of November Lord Salisbury
received letter mailed by Lord Sackville on
October rs, including letters, &c. Lord Sack
vile said: Il have certain information that the
Murchison letter was fictitious and was con-
cocted by a well-known firm in conjunction
with the republican national committee at New
York. 1t was sent from Southern California to
prevent suspicion. MIR. Bayard, whom / saw
to-day, said that he regretted the incident very
much, but accepted my disclaimer that 1t was
neither my thought or intention to interfere in
the domestic policy of the country. 1t was a
campaign trap, but he frankly told me that
had been indiscreet. / expressed my deep
regret for the incident and Mr.. Bayard assured
me that he bore me no ill"
On the 31st Of October Lord Sackville cabled
Lord Salisbury: II must beg to repudiate MIR.
Bayards statement of the reasons for nv dis
missal as an unjust attack upon my integrity"
Lord Salisbury ON the same day cabled to Lord
SackvIlle to place MIR. Herbert, as senior secre-
tary on the spot. IN charge of the legation.
On November 1 Lord Salisbury communicated
with Minister Phelps. He referred to the lat
ter's promise TO procure a copy of the obnox-
ious interview made by the British minister at
Washington, and added that, having no further
information as to what Lord Sackville' speeches
contained or to whom they were made, he was
unable to form any Judgment upon the consid-
erations which dictated the request for his re-
call or the forwarding of passports to him.
Mr.. Phelps replied to the note on the next
day. He said: My recollection of what passed
in our conversation on Saturday differs slightly
from yours in one particular. 1t was not in
tended to be understood that the letter written
by Lord Sackville formed no part of the rea-
sons for the request for his recall did say in
my remarks that the newspaper interview was
the principal reason. am still without copy
of the interview. l send to Mr.. Baysrd copy
of your lordship's note requesting the full de-
tails of the language and direct circumstances
of the interview"