No. 196.
Mr. Moran to Mr.
Fish
No. 164.]
Legation of the United States, London, December 30, 1870. (Received January 14,
1871.)
Sir: As illustrative of the prompt and efficient
action of the British government under the foreign enlistment act of 1870, I
would respectfully call your attention to the annexed extract from the Daily
News of yesterday, relative to the arrest of the ship International, in the
Thames, for having on board a submarine cable for the French government. It
may not be unjust to say that a little of the same spirit during the
southern rebellion would have saved much trouble and not a little
feeling.
I am told that there is a movement on foot to transfer the cable to American
owners, and ship it in an American bottom; but so far this project has not
been successful.
I have, &c.,
[From the Daily News.]
London, Thursday, December
29.
We are informed that the International, a ship having on board a
sub-marine cable for the French government, has been seized on the
complaint of Count Bernstorff, the Prussian ambassador, and lies in the
Thames in charge of custom-house officers. The cable was manufactured by
the India-rubber, Gutta-percha and Telegraph Works Company, (Limited,)
of Silvertown, under a contract with M. Steenacker’s director-general of
telegraphs in France, to connect Dunkirk with Cherbourg, Brest, and
Bordeaux. By an amendment to an act passed during the last session of
Parliament, “military telegraphing” was included among the subjects with
respect to which an infringement of neutrality became possible, and it
is under this statute that the government found itself obliged to take
notice of the information supplied by Count Bernstorff and to act upon
his demand for the detention of the vessel. An application by
[Page 418]
the company for the release of
the vessel and cable has been, we understand, addressed to the proper
authorities, but thus far has met with no success. As it is not denied
that the cable was intended to be laid between Dunkirk and Bordeaux, and
as it might, undoubtedly, be used for military purposes by the French
government, the case contemplated by Parliament, in the act above
referred to, was thought to have been prima facie
made out. Count Bernstorff can have little reason to complain that, in
this instance at least, the English government has not acted with
promptitude and effect, if it be true, as we are assured, that within
three hours from the time of filing the complaint the vessel was in
custody.
