Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1888-11-01
NOTICE TO QUIT.
The President, Through Secretary
Bayard, Notifies Great Britain
to Withdraw
Her Obnoxious Ninister-The Secre.
tary Indites a Letter on the
Subject.
How Minister West Has Violated the Rules
Governing Accredited Foreign Repre-
sentatives.


the President, the Secretary Of State yes
terday informed Lord Sackville that for
causes heretofore made known to Majesty's
Government, his continuance in his pres
emit official position in the United States
was no longer acceptable to this Govern
ment, and would consequently be detri-
mental to the relations between the two
countries. The grounds of this action on
the part Of the United States are stated in
the following report of the Secretary of
State to the President:
DEPARTMENT OF STATE WASHINGTON, Oct.
o. 1s88-To the President: The undersigned
has the honor TO submit for your consideration
the following statement with q view to receive
your direction thereon:
On September last letter purporting to
be written by one Charles r. Murchison, dated
1t Pomona, Cal, was sent from that place to
the British Minister at this capital, in which
the writer solicited an expression Of his views
tons between the United States and Great
Britain, stating at the same time that such
an expression was sought by him for the
purpose OF determining his vote at the sp-
preaching Presidential election. He stated
that he wss Q naturalized citizen Of the
United States, Of English 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. He fur
ther stated that the information he sought was
not for himself alone, but to enable hun to give
certain assurance to many other persons in the
same situation as himself, for the purpose Of
influencing and determining their. political &C.
ton as citizens of the United States of English
birth, but who still regarded their original obi
cations OF allegiance as paramount. The letter
also contained gross reflections upon the con-
duct Of this Government in respect to Ques-
lions now IN controversy and unsettled between
the United States and Great Britain, and both
directly and indirectly imputed insincerity in
such conduct.
To this letter the British Minister at once re-
piled from Beverley, Mass, under date of Sep
TENDER IS last In this reply he stated 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 unfortunately reopened since the
rejection Of the Fisheries treaty by the Repub-
Gcan majority in the Senate and by the Pres
ident's message to which you allude, allow
snces must therefore be made for the polit-
icsl situation as regards the Presidential cleo
ton" The Minister thus gave his assent and
sanction 70 the aspersions and imputations
above referred to. Thus under his correspond
ter ooncurFed by marking his answer private"
he undertook to advise citizen Of the United
States how TO exercise the franchise Of suffrage
in an election close at hand for the Presidency
and Vice-Presideney Of the United States, and
through him. as the letter suggested, to inf1u-
ence the votes Of many others.
Upon this correspondence being made public
the Minister received the representatives of
Of the public press and in frequent interviews
%1 sr%A Lad Co.
the impugnments which he had already made
Of the good faith of this Government in its
public action and international dealings. Al
though ample time and opportunity have been |
Afforded him for the disavowal, modification or
Of his statements, to some of which |
his intention was called personally by the I'M
designed, yet no such disavowal or modifca-
ton has been made by him through the chan |
nels in which his statements first found pub |
lefty.
The question is thus presented whether it is |
compatible with the dignity, security and indie |
pendent sovereignty Of the United States to /
permit the representative of foreign govern /
nent In this country not only to receive and |
answer without disapproval and confirm by his /
'epetition aspersions upon its political action,
put also to interfere in its domestic affairs by
advising persons formerly his countrymen as /
% their political course as citizens of the /
~ and Great Britain there can be no
controversy as to complete severance of the
les OF original allegiance by naturalization
Disputes on this point were finally put at rest
" the treaty of naturalization concluded BY
he two countries May Is, 1870. Therefore it
viii not be commended nor was such contention
yer admitted by us, that citizens of the United |
states OF British origin are subject to any claim
II the country of their original allegiance.
i0nn olc had 10 1
he attention to the provisions of section b5S3 |
4 the revised statutes Of the United States by |
Which severe penalties are visited upon citizens |
4 the United States who. without the AUTHORITY |
r the permission OF this Government com
nences or carries on any verbal or written cor |
dependence or intercourse with any foreign
government or any officer or agent thereof. |
ither with an intent to inf1usnce the action of
UGH Government or its agents in relation |
0 and disputes or controversies with the
United States or with an intent to de- |
Eat the measures of the Government
the Unitad States" These penal- |
les are made equally applicable to every citi-
en- OF the United States not duly authorized ;
rho ''counsels, advises or assists in sny such |
correspondence" with similar unlawful intent
ne undersigned respectfully advises that the {
ttention OF the Attorney General Of the United |
tstes be directed to these ensctments in order |
4
} ascertain whether they have not been vio- |
tied in the present case by the correspondent |
the British Minister.
By your direction the attention of the British |
government has, in spirit of comfy, been |
allied to the conduct OF their Minister. as
oove described, but without result. It there
Ire becomes necessary for this Government
consider whether as the guardian of its
wn self-respect and the integrity OF its in s
atutions it will permit further intercourse to |
held through the present British Minister at |
ais capital 1t is TO be observed that pre- 2
sdents are not wanting as to the question | :,
noer consideration. 1t is a settled rule. e. |
sntial to the maintenance of international in r
recourse that diplomatic representative must
persona grata to the Government to which he q
accredited If by his conduct he renders Y
1mseh persond non 0rdta an announcement
the fact may be made to his Government In q
be present case all the requirements of comfy
ave been fulfilled. the facts having been duly
communicated to her Msiesty's Government
It'll an expression Of the opinion of this Gov
rnment In regard thereto. Respectfully sub
lifted, TF. RAvrpn
Axworthy's Assets. %
CLEVELAND. O., Oct 3o.-Sheriff Sawyer