Letter

John Welsh to Edward Henry Stanley, March 12, 1878

Author
John Welsh
Recipient
Edward Henry Stanley
Date
March 12, 1878
Type
Letter
Language
English
[Inclosure 1 in No. 50.]

Mr. Welsh to Lord Derby.

Legation of the United States, London, March 12, 1878.

My Lord: Mr. W. W. Robinson, the consul of the United States in Tamatave, in the island of Madagascar, has represented to the Department of State at Washington that Her Britannic Majesty’s consul at Tamatave refuses to entertain complaints of American citizens against British subjects. He adds that this refusal had either been directed or sanctioned by Her Majesty’s Government. This policy must necessarily conflict with the interests of citizens of the United States, as it compels them to acquiesce in any injuries which may be inflicted on them by British subjects. Although the number of Americans in that place is not great and their causes of complaint against British subjects must consequently be few, it is desirable that, when such grievances arise, there should be a remedy for them through Her Majesty’s consul.

I am therefore instructed to mention this subject to your lordship, and to express a hope that, unless strong reasons should exist for continuing the policy adverted to it may be revised and modified, so that United States citizens may have their complaints heard with a view to their redress.

Mr. Robinson says that he has never refused to listen to the complaints of British subjects and will continue this practice. This course on his part has hitherto been approved by the Department of State, and no change in that respect will for the present be adopted, in the hope that there may be a change in the disposition of the British consul on the subject.

I have, &c.,

JOHN WELSH.
Topics
19th CenturyDiplomacyReconstruction
Sources
FRUS u2014 Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, Transmitted to Congress, With the Annual Message of the P View original source ↗
U.S. Department of State, Office of the Historian. Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, Transmitted to Congress, With the Annual Message of the P.
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