Charles R. Lowell to Granville Leveson-Gower, April 18, 1883

Mr. Lowell to Lord Granville.

My Lord: I have received to-day, from Mr. Frelinghuysen, a dispatch inclosing the copy of a joint resolution of both houses of Congress of the United States, providing for the termination of certain articles of the treaty between the United States of America and Her Britannic Majesty, concluded at Washington, May 8, 1871, which articles, under the protocol signed June 7, 1873, took effect on the 1st day of July, 1873, and, by the terms of the original treaty, are subject to termination by either party on two years’ notice, given at the expiration of ten years from July 1, 1873. This resolution, which was approved March 3, 1883, directs the President to give notice to the Government of Her Britannic Majesty that the provisions of each and every of the articles numbered 18 to 25, inclusive, and of Article XXX of the treaty May 8, 1871, will terminate and be of no force on the expiration of two years next of after the time of giving such notice, which the President is further directed to give on the 1st day of July, 1883, or as soon thereafter as may be.

I am therefore instructed to comply with the directions of Congress in this matter, as set forth, in the resolution, by giving the notice required; and, as the 1st day of July falls on Sunday, I am directed to give this notice on the next succeeding day. I beg, also, in compliance with further directions, to inform your lordship of the purport of this instruction, and of my contemplated action under it.

I have, &c.,