Benjamin Moran to Hamilton Fish, August 17, 1871

Mr. Moran to Mr. Fish

Sir: On the 10th instant General Schenck received your telegram of the 9th, (a copy of which is herewith inclosed,) instructing him to inform Lord Granville by note that the President had named Judge James S. Frazer, of Indiana, as commissioner under the XIIth article of the treaty of Washington, and also authorizing him to see his Lordship and say that instructions had been telegraphed to Mr. Marsh to obtain the consent of the Italian government to Count Corti’s acting as third commissioner under the treaty, and to request him, if he should see fit, to give instructions to the British minister in Italy to make a similar and contemporaneous request.

General Schenck at once wrote to Lord Granville, announcing the selection by the President of Judge Frazer, and his lordship replied on the 14th instant, expressing his thanks for the communication, and saying that Mr. Russell Gurney, recorder of London, had been appointed Her Majesty’s commissioner under the same article of the treaty.

I have the honor to inclose copies of both these notes.

General Schenck did not succeed in obtaining an interview before leaving London with Lord Granville, in relation to the second instruction in your telegram of the 9th instant; but I saw his lordship at the Foreign Office at 3.40 p. m., on 15th instant, and brought the subject to his notice. He said that Sir A. Paget had been instructed to propose Count Corti; but that when he communicated this to Mr. Marsh, that gentleman had received no advices on the subject from Washington. Subsequently he obtained instructions, and Her Majesty’s government have received information that the two ministers have already acted on their similar instructions, and requested the consent of the Italian government to Count Corti acting as the third commissioner.

I telegraphed the substance of this reply to you yesterday afternoon, and now transmit herewith a copy of that message.

I am, &c.,