Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-02-21

WASHINGTON, February 2O.-The Presi-
dent to-day sent to Congress all the cores
pondence which has taken place between
this Government and the Government of
Great Britain in regard to the dismissal of
Lord Sackville West, as Minister of Great
Britain to the United States. The Presi-
dents letter of transmittal is a purely formal
communication. The correspondence opens
with copy of the now famous Murchison
letter and Lord Sackville's reply thereto.
On October % Secretary Bayard, in a
telegram, directed Minister Phelps to invite
Lord Salisbury's attention to the Murchison
letter, and to express the confident reliance
of this Government upon the action of Her
Majesty's Government in the matter. On
the following day Secretary Bayard .tele-
graphed to Minister Phelps that Mr.. Vests
usefulness in this country was at an end;
that strong public sentiment had been
aroused, and that Lord Salisbury should be
permitted as speedily as possible to under
stand, too, the necessity of immediate action.
THE SALISBURY IDEA.
Under date of October 2S Minister Phelps
telegraphs to Secretary Bayard that Lord
Salisbury declined to act until in receipt of
the precise language of Lord Sackville and
his explanation. Lord Salisbury did not
regard the Minister'S letter alone as suffi-
cient to warrant his recall, thus ending his
diplomatic career, which would not neces-
sarily be the case if he were dismissed by
the Government of the United States, for
which course there were precedents.
Mr. Phelps states that there will be long
delays with no decisive result if dependence
is placed on the movement of the British
Government, and advises that action be
taken upon the intimation of Lord Sails
bury. The correspondence then gives the
report of Secretary Rayard to the Presi-
dent on the conduct of Lord Sackville, here
tofore published. Under date of October
80, Mr.. Bayard wrote to Lord Sackville as
follows:
The President of the United States has in
structed me to inform you that for good and
sufficient causes, which are known to yourself,
and have been duly brought to the knowledge
of your Government, he has with great regret
become convinced that it would be incompati-
BILE with the best interests and detrimental to
the good relations of both Governments that
you should any longer hold your present official
position in the United States.
BAYARD's EDICT.
Accordingly the Government of Her Brit
annie Majesty will without delay be informed
channel may be established for the transmits
sion of such communications as may be found
desirable by the two Governments in the trans
action of their business. Whenever it is your
pleasure to depart from the United States 1 am
instructed to furnish you with the usual facili-
ties and with that view 1 now beg leave to
inclose passport in the customary form.
On the same day Lord Sackville replied
TO Mr.. Bayard, acknowledging the receipt
of his letter. Under date of October 81,
Secretary Bayard communicated to Minister
Phelps, giving a statement of the Murchison
correspondence, and says:
Such an answer to such letter can only be
characterized as a gross breach of diplomatic
privilege and decorum, and an unjustifable
abuse of his Lordship's position here as the ac-
credited representative of a friendly power.
He dangerously invaded the exclusive
sovereignty of this country over its own citi-
zens and its affairs of the deepest moment.
On November Lord Salisbury asked for
more definite information in regard to what |
Minister West has done, and says he cannot |
take action until he receives fuller particu- |
lars. On December 8 Mr.. Phelps forwarded |
to Secretary Bayard a copy of a note to |
Lord Salisbury in which he transmitted |
copies of the MurcLison correspondence and |
newspaper interviews. Mr.. Phelps said |
that both the correspondence and the inter- |
view appeared to the Government of the |
United States to constitute very grave and |
affront by Lord Sackville to the |
President and the Senate.
NO ACTION BY ENGLAND.
Lord Salisbury replied to Mr.. Phelps, De- |
cember "a, saying that he had referred the |
above mentioned letter to Lord SackyilIe, |
Lord Salisbury said:
The action of the United States Government |
has rendered the copies of letters and inter- |
views transmitted by Mr.. Phelps of no prac-
teal importance, as they were wanted to en-
able Her Majesty's Government to form a
Judgment on the complaint 1t is, of course
open to any government on its own RESPONSE
biIity suddenly to terminate Its diplomatic |
relations with any other State, or with any par
ticular minister of any other State. But it has
no claim to demand that the other State shall
make itself the instrument of that proceeding
or concur in it, unless that State is satisfied by
reasons, duly produced of the justice of the
grounds on which the demand is made,
What view Her Majesty's Government would
have taken of LORD Sackville's action if the
President of the United States had laid before
them grave and weighty reasons for his re-
moval, it would be supernuous now to consider.
Private communications made by an ambassa-
dor in good faith have never, believe, before
been made the subject of international COM
plants, and considerable doubt seems to rest
upon the precise purport of the more public
statements made by Lord Sackville to the
IepOTleIs DuG IntSe were 1alr mat
ters for examination and discussion, if any such
discussion had been desired. 1t is sufficient
under existing circumstances to say that there
was nothing in Lord Sackvilles conduct to JUS
tify so striking departure from the circum-
spect and deliberate procedure by which in
in such cases it is the usage of friendly States
to mark their consideration for each other
will abstain from comment upon the con.
siderations not of an international character