Charles R. Lowell to By the President: Wm. M. Evarts, June 16, 1880
No. 308. Mr. Lowell to Mr. Evarts.
No. 17.]
Sir: Referring to your instruction to Mr. Welsh, of the 11th of July, 1879 (No. 328), in respect to the trial at Calcutta of John Anderson, for an offence alleged to have been committed on board of a vessel of the United States on the high seas, I have the honor to inclose a copy of the correspondence between this legation and the foreign office in relation to this subject.
It will be observed that Earl Granville, while he takes occasion to differ from yourself upon certain points of international law mentioned in your instructions, admits that the high court at Calcutta had no jurisdiction to try the case in question, and that the trial was a nullity and requests me to express to my Government the regret of Her Majesty’s Government that the action of the authorities at Calcutta should have been governed by a view of the law which, in the opinion of Her Majesty’s Government, cannot be supported, and trusts that I will convey the assurance to the Government of the United States that you have justly attributed this incident to a misconception, and not to any design to question the jurisdiction of the United States in this or any similar case.
I have, &c.,