The Virginia enterprise., 1898-02-25
AFFAIR OF SACKVILLE WEST.
How the Offending British Minister Made
Himself Obnoxioua.

How the Offe ndins British Minister Made
Himself Obnoxious
Owing to the De LONE affair, the incl
dent touching Lord Sackville West is
again revived.
Lord Sackville West had written Il let
ter to one Murchison in Pomona, Cal, in
September. 1888, in reply to his request
Tor guidance as naturalized American
OF British birth in casting his vote for
Yresldent. The reply was sent from
Beverly, Mass, where the minister was
stopping. and would not now nor probably
at any time except in the heat of one of
the great f0ur-yearly elections he regard
ed as particularly offensive. His lords,lir
simply said that ant political party which
openly favored the mother country at
that time would lose popularity and the
party then III power was we'll aware of
this fact. He believed, however, that
President Cleveland would manifest !,
spirit of cancellation in dealing with the
questions involved in his message.
Upon. seeing this letter printed. Secre-
tary Bayarl sent for Lord Sackyille
West and the latter frankly confessed
the authorship. Thereupon Mr.. Bayard
cabled to Mr.. Phelps, our minister at
London, under date of October 25 that
Lord Sackvillc West had declared that
his reply to Murchison had been strictly
pAt'otN oAlu ioA iItSAuSN loI n,
Mr.. :Bayard thereupon expressed his
surprise and amazement and condemna-
ton of the minister's act" "The gov
ernment of the United States" he said.
"could not be Indifferent to any inter
ference in the domestic issues by for
eign representatives. and Mr. phelps
was directed to "invite Lord Salisbury's
attention to the occurrence and express
the confident reliance OF this government
thn 9cfjnn nf hnr c%,,s,,
ment in the PREMISES
But Lord Salisbury did not take kind
y to the suggestion. He replied, that he
could not act until he had received the
minister's explanation. He did not re-
gard the letter alone as sufficient to war
rant the minister's recall. thus ending
his diplomatic career. which would not
lecessarily be the case if he were dis
missed hy the government of the United
States, for which, of course there arc
precedcnts.'
Mr.. Phelps, having advised that the
ntimation of Lord Salisbury be acted
upon, inasmuch as there was no nroh-
ability of his recalling the minister imme-
diately. Mr.. Bayard proceeded to dismiss
Lord Sackvllc West in the following
terms:
instructed me to inform YOU that for good
md 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
1t would be not compatible with the best
Interests and detrimental to the good re-
latiOns of both governments that YOU should
any longer hold your present official posi-
ton in the United States, and accordingly
the government of her British majesty will
without delay be informed of this deter
mination in order that another channel may
be found for the transmission of such com
Ifn fN1t. hpf
tween the two governments in the trans
action of their business.
Whenever it is your pleasure to depart
from the United States, am instructed to
furnish YOU with the usual facilities, and
with that view l now beg to inclose a pass
port in the customary form.
Lord Sackville West left immedia tely
and from October 80. 1883. until late in
the spring of 1889 the British govern
ment was represented here only by a
charge. a sign of the: displeasure with
which it viewed the treatment of it's
minister