The Washington herald., 1914-04-06

nized the Confederates as belliGerents.
II 1862 it was requested by France TO
join with that government i'll recoS-
milton OF the Confederate States as
government England had at first favor
ell the proposal, but declined 10 take
such a step.
The COnfederates. nevertheless, sue
ceeded in using British shipyards for the
construction of the commerce destroy
crS Alabama and Florida, and also placed
orders with the firm that had built the
Alabama for two ironclad rams, which
were TO be delivered in the fall of lS'3.
The seizure of these rams by the Brit
ish government IN October. 1855, on the
urgent representations of their CharaC-
ter made by the United States Minister
1T London. constituted the first positive
step toward a breach in the relations
between the Confederates and the Brit
ish shipbuilders, which was to become
final through the notice served upon Mr..
Davis that no more Confederate ships
would be allowed TO leave England.
Remembrance to Mr.. Davis
The effect of the seizure of the rams
in Richmond was first noticed in Mr..
Davis annual message for 1868. in
which he declared that her majesty's
government had entertained the clos
est ana most ltldlIOllS lAll
the United States. while refusing "Ordi-
nary amicable intercourse with U.S."
Mr.. Davis declared he was satisfied
that the British government was de-
termined to persist indefinitely in a
course of policy which, under profess
sions OF neutrality. had become sub
seryient to the designs of the enemy.
For that reason, he had felt it his
duty to recall the Confederate commits
sioners, who for 4 year had been re-
siding in London.
The tone of these statements was
duly noted in London. II the Confed-
crate cause had previously had any
friends in the British cabinet-and it
had seemed to have at one time-this
was exceedingly likely TO estrange
them.
BY this time, Furthermore. England
had arrived at positive understand
ing with the United States. that the
strictest Interpretation would be put
upon her neutrality. The notice re-
garding the rams had followed as a
matter OF course.
Lord Lyons was requested by Earl
Russell. the foreign secretary. to con-
vey to MIR. Davis. at Richmond" her
majesty's remonstrance. He was to
assure Mr.. Davis that il was adopted
entirely in that spirit OF neutrality
which has been declared the policy of
this country"
In Diplomatic Language.
Though the British note avoided des-
ignating Mr.. Davis as President, it
was couched in diplomatic language.
Her majesty's government conf
IDENTIFY relied on the frankness. cour-
tesy and discernment which Mr.. Davis
had in a diH1rIlr rirCuD1-
stances in which he had been placed
during the last three years, for a rec
ognition OF the correctness of the posi-
ton which her majesty's government
had taken upon this subject"
The note discussed the character of
the ironclad rams. declaring them ito
all intents and purposes" to be
equipped as war vessels" Under the
circumstances, her majesty's govern
ment protested and demonstrated
against any further effort of Confed-
crate agents ito build or cause to be
built or to purchase or cause to be
purchased any such vessels as those
styled rams or any other vessels to be
used for war purposes against the
United States" a nation with which
it was thep at peace.
Lord Lyons had forwarded this COM
munication from Washington through
the Federal lines, under nag OF truce,
by permission of the United States
government. He accompanied 1t with
a letter addressed to Mr.. Jefferson
Davis, Richmond" explaining that he
was obliged to send the dispatch in
that way ''in the absence Of all recog-
nized or consular residents or other
agents OF her majesty near Richmond"
In beginning his reply. which Mrs
Davis in her life of her husband char
acterizes as proud, pungent and just,
the Confederate President. through his
secretary, stated that while ''the Presi-
dent was not unwilling to waive, in exist
ing circumstances, the transmission of
such a document through other than the
usual and proper channel it would be
inconsistent with the dignity OF the posi-
ton he held as the chief magistrate of
Il 0O0, 900 people, ito allow the attempt of
Earl Russell to ignore the actual exist
ence Of the Confederate States, and to
contumeliously style them 'so-called.' to
pass without a protest or remon-
STRANGE" which he now made, against
this studied insult" Any future docu-
msntsip which the term was repeated