New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-02-05
A STATE SECRET SLIPS OUT.
now TIFF. DIPLOMATIC CORRESPONDENCE ABOUT
WILLIAM WEBSTER ALMOST RIA HE'D



CONGRESS.
Washington Feb (SpcciaD.-A State secret acct
dentay slipped in among the pub Docs" of Congress
and the fact was not discovered until the confidential
communication had been put In print for public d''
tlhution. Fortunately for the guardians OF the
Government secrets, however the order TO suppress
this contraband Pub Doc" reached the public printer
in time TO enable him to prevent Its distribution
Accordingly, the printed copies were Immediately
cancelled and the matter was reprinted In the form
Of confidential document for the private use OF
the Senate.
Just why the document shonM be kept secret Will
puzzle the minds OF the uninitated. But the eN-
PLANTATION probably is that the document consisted OF
report from the secretary OF state to the President
Of the United states and special message Dy INC
President transmitting the correspondence TO inc
Senate Secretary Blainc's report response 10
n resolution adopted b. the Committee on Foreign
Relations transmitting the OF william webster 10
the President with the statement that the committee
respectfully recommend the matter to his attention
as a claim that is worthy Of considerations ana WIN
the request that be made the subject OF further
negotiation with the Government Of Great Britain"
William Websters claim grows out OF his HaVne
been wroncully deprived Of lands belonging To him In
New Zealand. His claim against Great Britain Tor
compensation presented through the Department
~ state Her Maiesty's Government had arrived at
an unavoable decision upon the case finding that by
lis act Mr. webster nad beDirrtN HInScH hoiii
the right to claim anything, and under the cicuH-
stances Her Maiesty's Government replied to the
United states that 1t regretted that 1t was unable 10
reopen the case or to entertain Dir. Webstcrs claim
The United states Department OF State has found
that the unfavorabc determination arrived Mt by Great
Britain was result Of misrepresentation of the facts,
and Minister Lincoln was instructed 10 state to Her
Majesty's Government that II tho facts had been
correctly understood by that Government there was
reason to suppose that the result Of their deliberations
would have been different; and that the British Gov
ernments reply to this Governments representations
due rs 1t appears to be, to entire msconcepion
conclusive" Minister Lincoln communicated to Lord
salisbury the exceptions taken 10y the state Depart
ment b tho erroneous and unfavorablc view taken
Of the claim In question by Her Majcstys Govern
ment and expressed the hope that Her Maicsty's
Government would reconsider its views upon the sub
ject.
Tic correspondence recently sent to the Senate by
the President (which as before stated. was rescued
from among the Pub DOcS'l shows that the BRUSH
Forrgn Office carefully considered the Representa-
tlou, ~ iic American Minister respecting INC alu
claim Of Mr. Webster in Ncw-Icaand IN It's reply
To Minister Lincons mote, inc hlil.n Io'vlsn ,d
admitted Officially" that "miNtih1 WH' ilHu
ycrtnntly male hut added Her Majcsty's dp!o-
matte representative. "wlilc expressing Ia you NY
r,r-rct mat this mistake should have occurred. nave
Majesty Government 10 materially Affect me cues
ton at issue nor 70 involve any alteration OF inc &c
son AT which they have already arTivcts
The forcing Is the SulStanc" 81 the state secret
which near getlnI f't III inc mas Oh o,'c'
sent to Congress By the Executive branch OF tho "oV